Zelensky said on Friday that he respects public opinion and that citizens have the right to express their views, following protests over plans to curb the independence of anti-corruption bodies.
Parliament is due to vote next Thursday on a presidential bill that would restore autonomy to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP).
The move marks a sharp U-turn, coming just two days after Zelensky signed a law stripping the agencies of their independence - a decision that sparked a wave of protests across Ukraine, as well as criticism from the European Union and several of Ukraine’s Western allies, including Germany and France.
Zelensky backs down on anti-corruption reforms
On Thursday, the Ukrainian president announced via social media that he had submitted a bill to Ukraine’s parliament, saying it fulfills his promise to strengthen the independence of law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies.
Zelensky said the legislation provides full guarantees of their autonomy and real mechanisms for verification to prevent any potential Russian interference.
The Ukrainian leader added that the bill includes safeguards against abuse and was developed in consultation with Ukraine’s law enforcement, anti-corruption agencies and international partners.
Zelensky said input came from the UK, Germany and the EU, and that he had instructed officials to share the draft with foreign experts for review.
At a press conference on Friday, Zelensky told journalists that he respects public reaction to recent decisions concerning the country’s anti-corruption bodies.
“It’s very important what society has to say," Zelensky said. "I respect public opinion. I believe it’s completely normal for people to react when they don’t want something, when something doesn’t sit well with them. People have the right to speak their minds. The people have spoken - everything should be done according to the law. It was very important to me that we were heard, that we responded. People asked for changes. We responded."
The president admitted that “dialogue on the anti-corruption law should have taken place before it was signed.”
“There always needs to be communication," he said. "I’m focused on the issue of the war, because right now the most important problem in Ukraine is the war. Our biggest enemy is Russia."
EU Commission to monitor Ukraine’s corruption reforms
The European Commission has said it will closely monitor Ukraine’s latest legislative changes.
In a statement to public broadcaster Polish Radio, Commission spokesman Guillaume Mercier said that Brussels’ position remains unchanged: Ukraine must guarantee the independence of its anti-corruption institutions.
“These institutions are crucial for Ukraine’s reform agenda and its path toward EU membership,” Mercier said.
He added that it is now up to the Ukrainian authorities to uphold these standards. The Commission expects that the controversial measures already signed into law will not be implemented while new legislation is under review.
Protesters hold signs during a demonstration in Kyiv, Ukraine, July 23, 2025. Thousands of Ukrainians joined protests against the passage of a law that critics said would have stripped two key anti-corruption agencies of their independence by placing them under state control. Photo: Rostyslav Averchuk/PAP/EPA
The move to weaken Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies had sparked alarm in Brussels, marking the strongest EU criticism of Kyiv since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
While the European Commission had previously shown some flexibility on Ukraine’s reform delays, this step was seen as crossing a red line and ignoring prior EU recommendations.
Even Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, a strong Kyiv ally, voiced serious concerns to President Zelensky.
Criticism also came from key European capitals such as Berlin and London over the rollback of anti-corruption measures.
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Source: X/@ZelenskyyUa/@RadioZagranica/IAR
Click on the audio player above for a report by Michał Owczarek.
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