8 July 2021
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called
Ukraine’s digital transformation “a good example of the fight against
corruption”. Blinken made the statement at the Ukraine Reform Conference in
Vilnius, the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine reported in a
release on July 7. The release quotes Blinken as saying that 31 services have
been digitized ranging from business registration to building permits. He
further pointed out that digitization enables analysis that can uncover abuse
and then prevent abuse.
James Hydzik: While the primary thrust of international attention on Ukraine’s
reforms falls on governance and judiciary issues, digital reform is quietly
progressing. This is perhaps the brightest spot in President Zelensky’s reform
attempts and his best-kept campaign promise in this direction. That Blinken
mentioned it is noteworthy, as it demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the
situation in the country that has not been seen for some time. And because it
puts something concrete in the hands of Zelensky’s major concern – his voters –
then his support is likely to continue.