The Real Reason Behind Kachka's Dismissal, According to Zheleznyak

Speculation on Taras Kachka's Removal

According to 5 канал: Yaroslav Zheleznyak, a member of Ukraine's parliament, has offered his own theory on why Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Taras Kachka was let go. According to Zheleznyak, the government never provided an official explanation for the resignation. He claims Kachka was ousted because he consistently pushed for fulfilling anti-corruption commitments made to international partners-a stance that may have irritated the president and his inner circle.

Zheleznyak noted that while a new Cabinet will bring fresh rules, swapping out personnel does not erase Ukraine's existing obligations.

“When Kachka and the entire government were removed, officials immediately started pushing the line: no Kachka means no commitments. New Cabinet, new rules-old agreements supposedly no longer count. Convenient logic. There's just one problem: it doesn't work,” the lawmaker emphasized.

Required Reforms and Their Implications

He also listed several necessary reforms, including:

• overhauling the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI)
• amending procedural laws to eliminate statutes of limitations for corrupt officials
• expanding the powers of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO)
• conducting an independent competition to select the Prosecutor General

“Everything is ready and sitting in the Parliament,” Zheleznyak stated, pointing out that the bill to reform the SBI was submitted back in August 2025.

In August, the European Commission is set to begin preparing its annual report on Ukraine's progress toward EU membership. Taras Kachka, who previously served as deputy prime minister, will continue his role as Ukraine's trade representative to the EU in Brussels. President Zelenskyy spoke with Kachka and thanked him for his work.

Zheleznyak concluded:

“The Bankova [presidential office] never released an official version of the reasons for the resignation. But the timeline speaks volumes: a person who publicly assured partners that Ukraine would genuinely meet anti-corruption conditions is gone. Without explanation.”

He stressed that changing personnel cannot nullify Ukraine's international commitments: “If the European Commission replaced Marta Kos tomorrow, none of the EU's obligations would disappear either.”

The lawmaker warned that every unmet benchmark in cooperation with international partners could block Ukraine from receiving funding. “This time, the scandals surrounding personnel policy, which have made the front pages of European newspapers, will also be included,” he added, underlining that honoring commitments is critical to securing financial aid from the EU and the IMF.

This reshuffling of Ukraine's government, particularly the dismissal of Taras Kachka, could have far-reaching consequences for the country's European integration efforts. As Ukraine seeks continued financial support from international partners, adhering to previously made pledges-especially in anti-corruption-remains crucial. Failure to meet these conditions risks damaging relations with the EU and the IMF, potentially threatening Ukraine's economic stability.

As the situation unfolds, the implications of Kachka's dismissal extend beyond personnel changes. Zheleznyak expressed concerns about the potential delays in Ukraine's EU accession due to unmet reforms. For a deeper understanding of how these stalled reforms might impact Ukraine's path to the European Union, read more about the risks associated with delayed reforms.