Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukraine's president, is pushing new efforts to end corruption in the country's energy sector. (Chris J. Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The new energy initiative also comes after a former associate of Zelenskyy's was accused of being the mastermind behind a $100 million embezzlement scheme involving nuclear energy.
Tymur Mindich, who was once Zelenskyy's business partner, was identified by Ukraine's anti-corruption watchdogs as being the orchestrator of a scheme involving top officials and Ukraine's state nuclear power company. Prior to the scandal, some feared Mindich's growing influence over Ukraine's lucrative industries that he had access to because of his ties to Zelenskyy.
Mindich allegedly exerted control over loyalists who then pressured contractors for Energoatom, Ukraine's state-owned nuclear power company, demanding kickbacks to bypass bureaucratic obstacles. The requested kickbacks were reportedly as high as 15%.
Zelenskyy himself was not implicated in the investigation.
FORMER ZELENSKYY ASSOCIATE ACCUSED IN $100 MILLION EMBEZZLEMENT SCHEME
Zelenskyy is fending off the fallout from a corruption scandal in the energy sector.
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Ukraine's president further said that he is preparing for a full week of diplomacy with Greece, France and Spain, as well as renewed negotiations over prisoner of war exchanges with Russia.
Zelenskyy will meet with officials in Greece on Sunday to discuss natural gas imports, while talks with France on Monday and Spain on Tuesday will center on bolstering Ukrainian air defenses.
Fox News' Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.
Anders Hagstrom is a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events. Send tips to Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com, or on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders.
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