Zheleznyak Warns: Kachka's Resignation Doesn't Erase Ukraine's EU Commitments.

Yaroslav Zheleznyak Weighs In on Taras Kachka's Departure

According to 5 канал — Політика: Lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak has stated that the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Taras Kachka does not relieve Ukraine of its obligations to European partners. According to Zheleznyak, the presidential office never provided an official explanation for why Kachka stepped down. He stressed that swapping out officials does not cancel the promises already made—Ukraine still must deliver on them.

Zheleznyak also warned that excuses like 'we didn't have time to prepare the text' or 'we had to recall the document after the government changed' will no longer be accepted. The reshuffle could create fresh hurdles, including disputes over personnel decisions, which the MP believes will shape the government's next moves on European integration.

Why Reforms Matter for EU Integration

To give some background: Taras Kachka had been serving as the point person for EU integration matters, while Yaroslav Zheleznyak is a member of parliament. The European Commission is set to start drafting its annual assessment of Ukraine's EU membership progress this August. Meanwhile, the EU has allocated a 90-billion-euro funding package for Ukraine, which is crucial for backing reforms in the country.

Key reform priorities that still need attention include:

• overhauling the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI),
• amending procedural laws,
• expanding the powers of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO),
• and holding an independent competition to select a new Prosecutor General.

These issues remain critical for ensuring Ukraine's anti-corruption bodies are transparent and effective.

Kachka's resignation could have serious repercussions for Ukraine's EU integration efforts, especially with the European Commission's report approaching.

Yaroslav Zheleznyak

The time left before that report is due is vital for showing real progress on reforms that align with European values. It is essential that the new government leadership stays focused on meeting EU commitments, so as not to erode trust among international partners or put reform funding at risk.