Ukraine Zelenskyy reverses the course on controversial anti-corruption law

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to introduce new legislation that will restore the independence of anti-corruption agencies in Ukraine after a ferocious public opposition and international conviction on the signing of a law which targeted the independent anti-corruption institutions of Ukraine.

In a sudden turn of events, Zelenskyy published a video on X in which he said: “Of course, everyone heard what people say these days – on social networks, on each other, in the streets. This does not fall into the ear of deaf. We have analyzed all the concerns, all aspects of what must be changed and what must be stimulated.

“I will propose a bill to the Verkhovna Rada in Ukraine which will be the answer. This will guarantee the strength of the law law system, and there will be no Russian influence or interference in the activities of the police. And very important – all the standards for the independence of anti -corruption institutions will be in place,” said according to a translated version on the screen. “”

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Mass manifestations broke out in kyiv and through Ukraine in opposition to the law, the biggest anti-government demonstrations since the large-scale invasion of Russia began in February 2022. The president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen called Zelenskyy to express her strong concerns and make the mortgage of brusters.

A source close to the situation, which asked to remain anonymous, told Fox News Digital that the incident should give President Zelenskyy a break as to whether he gets the best advice from her closest people.

The individual linked to the Ukrainian government said that this propaganda bargain for Russia is a self-inflicted injury and also shows that the president and his team have misunderstood public feeling.

Many Ukrainians and Western allies fear that current disorders can compromise their way to join the European Union and the fracture of the Unit of Society while the country is confronted with Russian ononiculations.

Although he signed the initial bill, Zelenskyy said with the announcement of the new bill he would provide independence from the anti-corruption bodies and also eliminate Russian influence on their activities. By defending the previous legislation, he said that Ukraine’s anti-corruption infrastructure was infiltrated by Russia.

The Ukrainians protest in the first gathering of war against a newly adopted law, which limits the independence of anti-corruption institutions, in the midst of the attack of Russia against Ukraine, in the center of LVIV, Ukraine on July 22, 2025. (Baluk / Reuters novel)

The previous bill which was adopted on Tuesday allowed the Attorney General of Ukraine, appointed by the president, a large authority on cases before the National Anti-Corruption Office of Ukraine (NABU), an anti-corruption agency defended by the United States and Europe. He gave the Attorney General the scanning power to transfer the cases of Nabu and USURP of other powers of the Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) specialized in corruption, the agency responsible for the continuation of NABU affairs.

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“This is equivalent to being able to crush any legal responsibility for corruption,” said Josh Rudolph, anti-corruption expert and principal researcher at the German Marshall Fund, in Fox News Digital.

Rudolph noted that Nabu and SAPO chiefs are very famous professionals and have been selected with the agreement of the Ukraine international partners, a key element of EU membership.

“Zelenskyy could have been released as a hero or bad if he signed the bill. It was a moment of truth,” Fox News Digital Orysia Latsevych, Chief of the Ukraine Forum, Chatham House told Fox Newssevych. Even if Zelenskyy listened to public opinion and finally fell back, its global popularity continues to take a hit.

The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (not on photo) hold a joint press conference at the Recovery 2025 (URC2025) convention at the Roma Convention Center La Nuvola, July 10, 2025 in Rome, Italy (Antonio Masiello / Getty Image)

Ukraine has been in the grip of the government’s corruption since it declared the independence of the Soviet Union in 1991. Many Ukrainian observers fear that the efforts to find anti-corruption initiatives are fodder for Russian propaganda and the fracture of the unity of Ukraine at a critical time of the war.

“Russia can and use Ukraine’s decision to restructure anti-corruption agencies to argue the lack of unit, government support and internal disagreements. It will once again apply its propaganda arguments on the legitimacy of Zelenskyyy and the need for elections,” said Tymofiy Mylovanov, President of kyiv School of Economic, told Fox News Digital.

In this document photo taken from the video published by the Russian presidential press service, Russian president Vladimir Putin addresses the nation in Moscow, Russia, Saturday June 24, 2023. (Russian presidential press service via AP)

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Russian President Vladimir Putin says Zelenskyy is illegitimate and has called for new elections in Ukraine. The elections were planned for March 2024 but postponed while the country remains at war and under martial law.

The disunity in Ukraine comes at a time when Russian forces increases large -scale missiles and drones in kyiv and across the country. Russian forces continue to make advances while kyiv urgently pleads in Europe and the United States to send air defense and other key weapons to limit the battlefield gains in Moscow.