The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has warned that the country risks not receiving 4 billion euros in financial aid from the European Union this year due to a delay in the adoption of the draft law on an agreement with the investigation. About this reported People’s Deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak, who published a copy of an urgent letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, addressed to the President’s Office and the Verkhovna Rada.

The letter states that Ukraine has violated the promised deadlines for the adoption of draft law No. 12039, which amends the Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes. These changes are aimed at improving the mechanism of plea agreements in criminal cases related to corruption.

This draft law was registered after the scandal with the previous draft law No. 11340, which was criticized for the possibility of “buying off” from criminal liability for corruption.

According to the agreements, Ukraine was supposed to adopt this draft law as early as the third quarter of 2024. However, the document passed the first reading only on October 9. The EU has warned that if Ukraine does not complete all necessary procedures by the end of October, the payment of 4 billion euros may be postponed to next year. Further detention will depend on the entry into force of this law.

In order to receive funding this year, Ukraine must urgently adopt the law and ensure its entry into force by the end of the month.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also warns that failure to meet the deadlines may jeopardize the receipt of a 35 billion euro loan from the EU, as some countries may use this as an argument about Ukraine’s failure to fulfill its obligations.

People’s deputy Zheleznyak criticized the government, which, in his opinion, delayed the submission of the draft law. Meanwhile, the head of the “Anti-corruption Center” Vitaly Shabunin called on the deputies to adopt the document as soon as possible in the version agreed with the EU, SAP and NABU.