Ukraine’s Cabinet Refuses to Confirm Tsyvinskyi Amid Legal and Financial Pressures
Ukraine’s Cabinet declined to confirm the appointment of Tsyvinskyi during a meeting on Wednesday, despite mounting pressure and a legal requirement to do so before a July 31 deadline, reports 24brussels.
The selection committee stated that they could not legally revise their choice and emphasized that the Cabinet has no authority to reject their nominee, which they believe violates the law. The situation escalates as the government fails to make a decision, potentially jeopardizing vital funding.
In July, the European Union had already cut approximately €1.5 billion in funding for Ukraine due to the country’s inability to fulfill necessary reforms, a spokesperson confirmed. Delays in appointing Tsyvinskyi could also postpone Ukraine’s International Monetary Fund (IMF) funding, with the IMF not commenting on this matter.
James Wasserstrom, a U.S. anti-corruption expert and member of the selection commission, remarked that Kyiv’s refusal to confirm Tsyvinskyi amid rising external demands reflects a significant disconnect between the government and both its citizens and international allies.
The formal justification from Kyiv is that Tsyvinskyi’s father is a Russian citizen. However, committee members dispute this rationale, indicating that Tsyvinskyi has held a security clearance for over ten years and has not maintained contact with his father for many years.
