Media: The United States advises Ukraine to privatize banks and implement NATO protocols

Ukraine should reduce the role of the state in the banking sector, implement NATO protocols and fight corruption. This was reported by Politico with reference to a “confidential but not secret” document on the US strategy on Ukraine.

An example given is “return Alfa Bank into private property.” Government of Ukraine bought it out the entire package of shares “Alfa Bank Ukraine” – Sense Bank for 1 hryvnia in July 2023

Politico notes that a short 22-page version of the document was posted on the US State Department website about a month ago “without unnecessary fuss.” The confidential version is about three times longer and contains much more detail about U.S. goals in Ukraine, from privatizing banks to helping teach English in schools to encouraging the military to adopt NATO protocols.

Politico suggests that the US strategy appears to be aimed at ensuring that Ukraine not only maintains a Western orientation, but also develops special ties with America. One of the ways to achieve this goal, according to Washington, is the English language: the United States is offering assistance to the Ukrainian Ministry of Education to improve language teaching. The strategy also provides for the restoration of the US diplomatic presence in Ukraine, expanding it beyond Kyiv, in Lvov, Odessa, Kharkov and Dnieper.

Many of the goals stated in the document directed to reduce the level of corruption. In confirmation of the information, Politico cites its own source, who said that the administration of US President Joe Biden is in talks with Ukrainian leaders that possible future economic assistance should be conditional on “reforms aimed at fighting corruption and making Ukraine a more attractive place for private investment.” However, such conditions are not considered in relation to military assistance. The publication notes that the fact that the President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky fired several senior defense officials in a recent fight against graft – a signal to the US and Europe that he is listening to recommendations.

September 1, French newspaper Le Figaro wrote about corruption in the Ukrainian military commissariats, due to which the Ukrainian Armed Forces are faced with a shortage of conscripts who can be sent to the front. The newspaper also reports that since the beginning of the special operation in Ukraine, 13,600 people have been arrested who were trying to leave the country illegally. About 6,100 more people were caught with fake documents.