The European Commission has issued its strongest criticism yet of Ukraine’s leadership, warning that a new law undermining anti-corruption agencies could jeopardise Kyiv’s EU membership path.
The European Commission is hardening its tone against Ukraine following the approval of a controversial law that weakens the independence of two key anti-corruption bodies — the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO).
The legislation, signed into law by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday, just hours after being approved by parliament, places both institutions under the direct oversight of the prosecutor general, a political appointee. The prosecutor general will also have the power to reassign cases being investigated by NABU and SAPO, a move critics warn could erode investigative autonomy and enable political interference.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen telephoned Zelenskyy on Wednesday to express what a Commission spokesperson described as her “strong concerns” and to demand “explanations” from the Ukrainian leadership.
“President von der Leyen conveyed her strong concerns about the consequences of the amendments, and she requested the Ukrainian government for explanations,” the spokesperson said.
“The respect for the rule of law and the fight against corruption are core elements of the European Union. As a candidate country, Ukraine is expected to uphold these standards fully. There cannot be a compromise.”
The public rebuke represents a significant shift in tone from Brussels, which has largely offered uncritical political support to Kyiv since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. This marks the first time the Commission has issued such direct criticism of the Zelenskyy administration.
On Tuesday, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos also condemned the legal amendments, warning they “risk weakening strongly the competences and powers of the anti-corruption institutions of Ukraine.”
“Both institutions, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) are widely regarded as cornerstones of Ukraine’s rule of law. These institutions are crucial to Ukraine’s reform agenda and must operate independently to fight corruption and maintain public trust,” the Commission said.
Anti-corruption reform is a core condition for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, and is also seen as essential for attracting foreign private investment needed for post-war reconstruction. Ukraine’s candidate status was granted in June 2022, but further progress requires demonstrable commitment to EU standards.
In response to the backlash, Zelenskyy used his nightly video address to defend the government’s position, suggesting the reforms aim to insulate the institutions from malign foreign influence.
“The anti-corruption infrastructure will work, only without Russian influence – it needs to be cleared of that. And there should be more justice,” Zelenskyy said, referencing recent raids on NABU over alleged Russian espionage links.
“It is important that the Prosecutor General is determined to ensure that in Ukraine, the inevitability of punishment for those who go against the law is actually ensured. This is what Ukraine really needs.”
Iran said on Sunday (10 May) that it had sent its response to a U.S. proposal aimed at launching peace talks to end the war, as signs of tentative ...
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has cited Azerbaijan as an example of what he described as a sovereign foreign policy, recalling rem...
China’s exports grew faster than expected in April, as overseas buyers moved quickly to secure supplies a...
President Donald Trump called Iran’s response to a US war proposal “totally unacceptable” after Tehran sent its reply through med...
Russia is holding a significantly scaled-back Victory Day parade in Moscow on 9 May 2026, reflecting heightened security concerns and the ongoing w...
Russia is holding a significantly scaled-back Victory Day parade in Moscow on 9 May 2026, reflecting heightened security concerns and the ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year.
Ukraine’s military said it struck a Russian Karakurt-class small missile carrier in the Caspian Sea near Russia’s Dagestan region on Thursday. The extent of the damage is still being assessed, according to Kyiv.
Latvian authorities said two drones entered NATO member Latvia from Russian territory and crashed on Thursday morning, with officials linking them to Ukraine’s wider drone operations against targets in Russia.
Ukraine has accused Russia of violating a ceasefire proposed by Kyiv that came into effect at midnight on 6 May, reporting continued strikes that left at least one person dead and several others injured across frontline regions.
Efforts to end the U.S.-Iran war appeared to stall as the two sides exchanged fire in and around the Strait of Hormuz. A reported CIA assessment suggested Tehran could withstand a U.S. naval blockade for months despite mounting sanctions and renewed Gulf attacks.
British paratroopers and military medics have been deployed to Tristan da Cunha after a suspected hantavirus case was confirmed, as first evacuation flights carrying passengers from the stricken MV Hondius cruise ship left Tenerife for Madrid and Paris.
Russia is holding a significantly scaled-back Victory Day parade in Moscow on 9 May 2026, reflecting heightened security concerns and the ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year.
Indonesian rescue teams have located two Singaporeans who went missing after Mount Dukono erupted on Friday (8 May) on the island of Halmahera, though authorities say it remains unclear whether they are alive.
The U.S. Defense Department has released dozens of previously classified files on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) on Friday (8 May), following an order from President Donald Trump. U.S. officials described as a push for “unprecedented transparency”.
China’s leading chipmakers are funnelling unprecedented sums into research and development as Beijing accelerates efforts to reduce reliance on foreign technology amid intensifying U.S. export restrictions.
Centre-right leader Péter Magyar was sworn in as Hungary’s prime minister on Saturday, propelled into office on promises of change after years of economic stagnation and strained ties with key allies under his predecessor Viktor Orbán.
The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has warned that France risks undermining the self-determination rights of the Kanak Indigenous People in New Caledonia amid proposed political and constitutional reforms.
Somalia is facing a severe malnutrition crisis and urgently needs additional humanitarian funding to prevent conditions deteriorating further, the World Food Programme has warned.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed to carry on as leader on Friday (8 May) after his ruling Labour Party suffered heavy losses in local elections. Labour lost hundreds of councillors across the country, as some figures in the party said he should stand down.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment