EU ministers met in Brussels this week to discuss how Ukraine could best use the EU’s €90 billion loan to repel Russian forces. Backdropped by a widening corruption scandal in the war-torn country, Estonia's defence minister told Euronews there is 'no question' the money should not be mishandled.
Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur told Euronews there is "no question" accountability needs to be enforced when it comes to the bloc's €90 billion loan as the former chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is investigated over graft allegations.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
"We need to have the accountability in place," Pevkur told Euronews' programme Europe Today.
"It is definitely something Ukrainians are looking into very seriously because it's also important for them that there are no rumours or no problems involved with that kind of assistance.
"At the end of the day they need to get the support up and running for next years to come – even when the war will be over."
Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov was present at Tuesday's Foreign Affairs Council talks, which centred on defence. Pevkur said that it is up to Fedorov to demonstrate how the funds will be used not only to allay the anxieties of Ukrainians but also that of Europe.
"Ukrainians still need our assistance, our help, so to rebuild Ukraine and to help them to be a normal European country," he said.
"This is why it is first and foremost for the Ukrainians to show for their own people and for us that everything is in a good shape."
Watch the full interview in the player above.