Ukraine's Energy Minister allegedly calls EU ambassador "mid-level clerk" during parliamentary session, Energy Ministry denies

Ukraine’s Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko has reportedly criticised the position of EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová regarding the completion of the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) units during a government Q&A session, allegedly referring to her as a "mid-level clerk".

Source: a transcript of the session published by Ukraine’s Parliament press service, as reported by European Pravda

Details: During a government Q&A session in the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament), MP Inna Sovsun from the Holos faction, who is a member of the parliamentary energy committee, noted that the committee had received a letter from representatives of the European Commission and the US Embassy. The letter expressed concern about public claims that both entities allegedly supported the project, which they denied.

Quote from Sovsun: "In reality, there is no such support. They would like to avoid such manipulations in the future." 

Details: In response, Halushchenko said: "Regarding the position of mid-level clerks in the European Commission's representation, Inna, I am extremely sorry that you run about embassies slandering our energy sector and our country.".

Following a brief verbal exchange in Parliament, Halushchenko remarked that "there is no unified EU approach to the development of nuclear energy, and this is well known".

Quote from Halushchenko: "Therefore, there cannot be a single EU position on the development of nuclear energy, including the construction of our units. This was duly announced by the EU representative in Ukraine, Katarína Mathernová, who stated that the EU does not comment on the issue of unit construction."

Background: On 17 December, in a comment to European Pravda, EU Ambassador Katarína Mathernová clarified that the draft law for the completion of the Khmelnytskyi NPP units with funding from Western donors was developed without consultations with the EU, although Ukraine has the right to do so. She emphasised that the EU would not participate in financing the project.

Update: Following the publication of the news, the press service of the Ministry of Energy contacted European Pravda, asserting that Minister Halushchenko did not refer to Mathernová when he used the phrase "mid-level clerk". The ministry claimed this interpretation "distorts the meaning of the minister's words" and insisted that Halushchenko "referred to the EU ambassador in Ukraine positively".

Quote from Ministry press service: "Unfortunately, the issue of constructing additional units at the Khmelnytskyi NPP has become a subject of manipulation, including by some members of the Verkhovna Rada and experts. Specifically… private correspondence by mid-level diplomats was used. At the same time, the head of the EU delegation, Katarína Mathernová, provided relevant clarifications, which the minister referred to during the session." 

It is worth noting that the connection between the minister's comments and the EU ambassador was also made in Parliament. Additionally, the points raised by MP Inna Sovsun, which prompted the minister's harsh reaction, were consistent with the statements made by Ambassador Mathernová.

Background:

• In June, Ukraine's Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko stated that the country planned to use donor funds to complete the construction of nuclear power plant units. By July, the Verkhovna Rada’s Anti-Corruption Committee identified corruption risks in the corresponding draft law.
• On 17 December, the Verkhovna Rada withdrew from consideration the draft law on the placement, design, and construction of Units 3 and 4 of the Khmelnytskyi NPP.

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