Kyiv, 29 April 2024 (dpa/MIA) — Kyiv's Mayor Vitali Klitschko has accused the Ukrainian government of doing too little to combat corruption in the country.

When asked whether the government was on the right track in the fight against corruption, he said in an interview with Germany's Funke media group newspapers in remarks published Monday, "You can ask any citizen this question and I'm sure every citizen will say 'no'." He said he has "exactly the same opinion."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly announced a rigorous fight against corruption and misappropriation of funds in the state apparatus. Proof of success in this fight is also a prerequisite for his country's EU membership.

Just a few days ago, Mykola Solskyi resigned as agriculture minister due to allegations of corruption. The Ukrainian Anti-Corruption Bureau accuses him of illegally appropriating state-owned land worth millions.

With regard to his relationship with Zelensky, Klitschko lamented a lack of cohesion among the leading politicians in Ukraine.

"Unfortunately, there is no unity between the political forces in this time of war," said Klitschko.

Klitschko said that he had tried to meet with Zelensky multiple times since the start of the war.

"But unfortunately I haven't had the opportunity to meet Zelensky in person. He probably has other things to do."

It is important to forget about political ambitions in the current situation. "Pursuing political competition in a situation like this is stupidity," Klitschko said.

Klitschko pointed to the damage caused by Russian drones and called for greater international support for air defence.

"We have a deficit in air defence systems," Klitschko said. The citizens of Odessa, Dnipro and Kharkiv also needed protection.

After two years of war, the damage in Kiev is huge. More than 800 buildings had been damaged and destroyed by the airstrikes, including almost 440 residential buildings. More than 200 people have died as a result of the airstrikes, including seven children.

During the winter of 2022, the Russian army attempted to destroy the city's critical infrastructure, Klitschko said.

"This is genocide. It is terror to leave the largest city in Eastern Europe without water, electricity and heating."