Zelenskyy Signs Anti-Corruption Bill Sparking EU Backlash, Kyiv Protests

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy plans to request European allies' financial support to improve soldiers' salaries amid recruitment shortages in the ongoing conflict with Russia. However, Zelenskiy faces significant criticism from the European Union after signing a controversial law that undermines the independence of Ukraine's key anti-corruption agencies, namely NABU and SAPO, placing them under the control of the prosecutor general appointed by the president. This legislative move has sparked the first large-scale protests in Kyiv since the Russian invasion began and has raised serious concerns among EU leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, about Ukraine's commitment to democratic values and rule of law. EU officials warn that the law could jeopardize Ukraine’s aspirations for EU membership and future financial aid, emphasizing that anti-corruption reforms are essential prerequisites for accession. Zelenskiy has defended the reforms, asserting that the anti-corruption bodies will continue functioning, but the backlash highlights tensions between maintaining wartime governance and adhering to European democratic standards. The situation underscores a critical challenge for Ukraine as it balances internal political decisions with the expectations and conditions set by its European allies.