Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, undated (AP)

NATO will request "additional steps" from Ukraine to combat corruption before the procession of membership talks, said a senior official in the US State Department, according to the Telegraph on Tuesday.

“As they continue to make those reforms, we want to commend them, we want to talk about additional steps that need to be taken, particularly in the area of anti-corruption," the source said, adding, "It is a priority for many of us around the table."

Ukraine's corruption has been a contentious topic in recent discussions between NATO members on providing the country with a concrete timeline for joining the Western military alliance.

Ukraine has been given a list of reforms by NATO diplomats and officials it is expected to implement before obtaining its membership objectives, stated a US defense official.

In an interview for Time magazine last month, US President Joe Biden raised the issue of the former Soviet state's "significant corruption", currently opposing the “Nato-isation of Ukraine."

Ukraine's stance will be formalized in a written communique that will be signed during the annual NATO summit on July 9.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky aims to obtain NATO membership following the end of the war with Russia, ensuring its protection by the US and Europe in the event of a future Russian invasion.

Zelensky will attend the summit in Washington, potentially receiving an offer from the Western allies to meet the country's air defense systems needs and flagship system deliveries from the US. Additionally, Ukraine will likely be assured that it is on a “well-lit bridge” to NATO membership.

Majority of Ukrainians blame Zelensky for widespread corruption

Ukraine has relied on foreign aid to pay civil servants since the war.

Zelensky initiated a sweeping military purge in August last year. 112 criminal cases were opened against officials in recruitment centers.

Former military commander Evgeny Borisov was at the center of an investigation last month in which it appears that he purchased multiple properties in the city of Marbella in 2022 and 2023.

It is important to note that two Ukrainian polls published on September 11, 2023, showed that a vast majority of Ukrainians believe that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is responsible for corruption scandals plaguing his administration.