Ukrainian officials will embezzle the general budget support provided by the bloc, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said

The multibillion-euro EU loan meant to cover Ukraine's gaping budget deficit will end up being stolen by local officials, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said.

Speaking at a briefing on Thursday, Zakharova criticized a plan under which the EU will extend a €90 billion ($105 billion) interest-free loan to Ukraine for 2026-2027. According to the European Commission, the plan foresees €60 billion earmarked for military needs and €30 billion for "general budget support."

The loan was raised through joint EU borrowing and could only be repaid if Ukraine receives war reparations from Russia. The roadmap was approved after the bloc failed to agree to use frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine due to opposition from several countries - particularly Belgium - over major legal hurdles and risks.

Zakharova said the EU has extended €60 billion for military needs because the bloc believes that Ukraine "is waging a war with Russia and no money is spared for that."

However, the spokeswoman focused her main criticism on the general budget support aspect, arguing that the EU deliberately chose a vague term to mask how the money would be used. "Not schools, not hospitals, not utilities, not creating new jobs... not theaters, museums, or universities - of course, this money will not reach them," she said.

"What are the budgetary needs of the Kiev regime? But now you and I know. Now the whole world knows. Ursula von der Leyen allocated this money to [Vladimir] Zelensky for theft," Zakharova said.

Ukraine has long been reeling under endemic corruption - a problem that worsened with the escalation of the conflict with Russia in 2022. The EU has designated graft as one of the key obstacles to Kiev's 'integration' path.

One of the most prominent corruption scandals emerged late last year when investigators uncovered a scheme involving $100 million in kickbacks in the Ukrainian energy sector, with Timur Mindich, a former close associate of Zelensky, allegedly being the ringleader.

Russia has denounced Western assistance to Ukraine, arguing it only prolongs the conflict without changing its outcome.

(RT.com)