This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38087839

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Ukraine corruption and Russian aggression both on table at EU summit Ukraine corruption under scrutiny at EU summit
(about 4 hours later)
Conflicting objectives are likely to trouble a top-level meeting between Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko and senior EU officials in Brussels. Ukraine's record on tackling corruption is due to come under scrutiny at a meeting of EU leaders on Thursday.
The summit is supposed to discuss anti-corruption measures demanded by the EU in exchange for visa-free travel. European officials have urged Ukraine to clamp down on corruption and to carry out other reforms since 2014.
But Ukraine's foreign minister said the focus must be on Russian aggression and extending economic sanctions. But critics say not enough has changed, and President Petro Poroshenko has been accused of backing corrupt officials.
Kiev is also concerned about Donald Trump's praise of the Russian president during the US presidential campaign. The Brussels talks will focus on how reforms are progressing, with the promise of visa-free travel for Ukrainians on the table.
In 2014, Ukraine's then-President Viktor Yanukovych was forced from power amid corruption allegations. But Ukraine hopes another matter - Russia's role on Ukrainian territory - will take priority at the meeting.
Days later, the Crimea crisis began as gunmen seized key buildings in the region. How bad is the corruption problem?
Measures to tackle endemic corruption are a key demand from the EU for visa-free travel from Ukraine, though, along with the US, it continues to support the country in its conflict with Russia. Perception of corruption is worse in Ukraine than in Russia, according to Transparency International.
Those anti-corruption measures are the supposed focus of Thursday's summit with the EU's Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker. The BBC's Tom Burridge, in Kiev, says some anti-corruption campaigners are "scathing" in their criticism of President Poroshenko. They have accused powerful and very wealthy individuals, sometimes linked to the president, of limiting reform to protect their own interests, he adds.
Two weeks ago, the governor of the Odessa region, former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, resigned, accusing Mr Poroshenko of backing corrupt officials who, he said, were undermining his reform efforts in Odessa.
Days earlier, officials were forced to reveal their huge wealth - hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and collections of luxury items - under new anti-corruption rules.
In 2014, Ukraine's then-President Viktor Yanukovych was forced from power amid corruption allegations - his lavish estate, with Greek ruins and a replica galleon, was then revealed.
What is Ukraine doing about corruption?
Ukraine has created a new anti-corruption bureau, a new police force, new electronic systems for tendering government contracts, and a method for tracking the wealth of public officials and politicians.Ukraine has created a new anti-corruption bureau, a new police force, new electronic systems for tendering government contracts, and a method for tracking the wealth of public officials and politicians.
On Wednesday, a 23-year-old lawyer, Anna Kalynchuk, was appointed to lead the anti-corruption drive. On Wednesday, a 23-year-old lawyer, Anna Kalynchuk, was appointed to lead the anti-corruption drive.
Critics claim she lacks the proper experience, but others have welcomed new ideas to challenge older politicians.Critics claim she lacks the proper experience, but others have welcomed new ideas to challenge older politicians.
Days earlier, 24-year-old Anastasia Deyeva was appointed deputy interior minister, one of the country's highest-ranking police and security positions. Days earlier, 24-year-old Anastasia Deyeva was appointed deputy interior minister one of the country's highest-ranking police and security positions.
At the same time, pro-Russia activity in the country's eastern Donbass region remains a concern for the Ukrainian government, more than two years after the annexation of Crimea by Russia. What else is under discussion?
The seizure of territory by pro-Russian rebels in Donbass in south-eastern Ukraine remains a concern for the Kiev government, more than two years after the annexation of Crimea by Russia.
"I think the focus must be on the situation in Donbass, on Russian aggression, on the extension of sanctions," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said before of the summit."I think the focus must be on the situation in Donbass, on Russian aggression, on the extension of sanctions," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said before of the summit.
He said Russia must be forced to honour peace agreements signed in early 2015.He said Russia must be forced to honour peace agreements signed in early 2015.
"For that we need our European friends and the representatives of the United States," he said. Kiev is also concerned about Donald Trump's praise of the Russian president during the US presidential campaign.
During the US presidential election campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly talked about repairing relations with Russia, and criticised the United States' role in Ukraine. Mr Trump repeatedly talked about repairing relations with Russia, and criticised the United States' role in Ukraine.
His comments led some Ukrainians to fear a withdrawal of US support, or even the acceptance of the new status quo in Crimea by Mr Trump's White House.His comments led some Ukrainians to fear a withdrawal of US support, or even the acceptance of the new status quo in Crimea by Mr Trump's White House.