Ukraine needs judicial reform to join NATO and EU, CDA Kvien believes

The United States does not peg the amount of financial support for Ukraine to progress in reforming the judiciary but recalls that its reboot is necessary to achieve the goals of NATO and EU membership.

"The United States will always support Ukraine in its pursuit of transparency, reduction of corruption, and the fight against external threats. Therefore, we do not impose such conditions [do not peg financial assistance to the judiciary reform]. However, I would say that in order to achieve its own goals – to boost foreign investment, to join NATO and the EU – Ukraine will have to improve. In particular, it concerns the rule of law and the judiciary," Chargé d'Affaires of the United States in Ukraine Kristina Kvien said on the air of Savik Shuster's Freedom of Speech TV program on October 22, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

She added that U.S. companies could not be forced to invest in the country until they felt confident in the Ukrainian judicial system.

"When the American Chamber of Commerce conducts a survey, litigation is named the number one barrier. Therefore, I believe that the implementation of judicial reform is extremely important for the future of Ukraine and the achievement of its own goals," the diplomat said.

On October 20, the article "Now is the Moment to Transform Ukraine" authored by Chargé d'Affaires of the United States in Ukraine Kristina Kvien, Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Matti Maasikas, and Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Ukraine Melinda Simmons was released, in which the diplomats officially reminded President Zelensky about the need to fight corruption in the courts and conduct judicial reform.

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