President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will propose to lawmakers to equate corruption with high treason during the period of martial law in Ukraine.
In an interview with TV presenter Natalya Moseychuk, he said parliament would receive the draft law within a week.
"I have set a task, and Ukrainian lawmakers will be offered my proposals to equate corruption with high treason in wartime. I understand that such a 'weapon' cannot be used in society all the time, but in wartime, I think it will help," the president said.
"I don't know whether the legislature will support this, but I will definitely propose it. Because we are developing a democratic society. It is very important not to tighten the screws and not to look at this or that acute, blatant case every time. We must introduce systemic things," Zelenskyy added.
He noted that such a tool should be used as soon as possible, before the end of the war.
"We all want the war to end as soon as possible. But this is precisely to ensure that the appropriate tool is used as soon as possible. I think parliament will receive it in the course of the next week. Then the ball is in parliament's court... But this is not an execution, this is not Stalinism. If there is evidence, the person should be behind bars," Zelenskyy explained.
According to Article 111 of the Criminal Code, high treason is an act intentionally committed by a citizen of Ukraine to the detriment of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability, defence capability, state, economic or information security of Ukraine.
Such actions are punishable by imprisonment for a term of 10 to 15 years.