Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy approved legislation on Tuesday placing the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) under greater government control. This move has drawn sharp criticism from European leaders, including Germany, France, and Sweden, who warn it could jeopardize Ukraine's EU accession bid and hinder anti-corruption efforts. The bill, passed swiftly by the Verkhovna Rada, grants expanded powers to the prosecutor general's office, allowing it to close cases against high-ranking officials.

Zelenskyy defended the changes, claiming they are necessary to purge the "anti-corruption infrastructure" of Russian influence. He convened a meeting with law enforcement and anti-corruption agency heads on Wednesday, stating their agreement to develop a joint action plan to strengthen Ukraine. However, he did not directly address criticism from civil society activists who accuse him of a power grab. Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Commission, expressed strong concerns, emphasizing that respecting the rule of law and fighting corruption are fundamental EU requirements for candidate countries.

Protests erupted in several Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, with demonstrators expressing their opposition to the legislation. These protests, the first since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, mark a significant domestic political challenge for Zelenskyy. Civil society leaders assert that the government has broken an informal agreement not to criticize official abuses during wartime. Former Ukrainian defence ministry advisor Yuri Sak noted a strong historical precedent for Ukrainians protesting authoritarianism.

Impact Statement: The controversy surrounding the anti-corruption agency changes poses a significant challenge to Ukraine's relationship with the EU and could impact its ongoing efforts to join the bloc. The domestic political fallout also presents a major test for Zelenskyy's presidency.