PNN – The approval and signing of the law on “anti-corruption” reform by the President of Ukraine has sparked a wave of domestic and international reactions, not only causing widespread protests among the country’s people, but also raising serious concerns among Kiev’s Western partners.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, citing the TASS news agency, the approval and signing of the controversial so-called “anti-corruption” law by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which directly undermines the powers of two key anti-corruption institutions, the National Anti-Corruption Department of Ukraine and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, has been met with strong domestic and international backlash. This decision has sparked a wave of public protests, explicit warnings from Western diplomats, criticism from American politicians, and worrying analyses in the international media.
On July 23, 2025, the Ukrainian parliament passed the law with 263 votes in favor, which was immediately signed by Zelensky. The law entered into force this morning, Wednesday, July 23.
According to this law:
– The Prosecutor General of Ukraine becomes the direct head of the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office.
– In practice, the Special Prosecutor’s Office, which was previously considered a relatively independent institution, is becoming an institution under the command of the government.
– The law also repeals the previous ban on transferring cases from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) to other institutions.
– The Attorney General now has the authority to refer cases under investigation within this framework directly to other prosecutors.
Domestic Ukrainian commentators have warned that these changes will weaken the structure of key anti-corruption institutions in the country and could leave them vulnerable to political influence and executive pressure.
Wave of domestic protests and signs of political divide in Ukraine
In response to Zelensky’s signing of the law, popular protests erupted in Kyiv, Lviv, and other Ukrainian cities. One of the protest placards read: Zelensky’s law is surrender to corruption.
Some analysts believe that these protests, beyond a spontaneous popular reaction, reflect hidden conflicts within power circles in Ukraine.
Italian journalist Vincenzo Lorusso reported from Kiev that the unrest may have been organized with the support of circles within the military, government, or Kyiv city hall. He also noted that many Ukrainians now see Kirill Budanov, head of the Defense Ministry’s intelligence service, as a potential successor to Zelensky. He believes that demonstrations of this scale could not have grown to this extent without the support of parts of the ruling structure in the capital.
Harsh reactions from the West; Alarm bells in Brussels and Washington
The Wall Street Journal, citing diplomatic sources, warned in a report that the law “could weaken Western support for Ukraine.”
The report states: The attack on anti-corruption institutions puts Ukraine on a dangerous path that may not only lead to a loss of trust in Western countries, but also lead to serious obstacles on the path to joining the European Union.
The Spectator also wrote: Western diplomats had warned Zelensky that the passage of this law could jeopardize the EU membership process, lead to the abolition of the visa regime, and even lead to the imposition of direct sanctions against Ukraine.
US senator reacts sharply to Zelensky’s move: Aid to Kiev must be stopped
Following the signing of this law, criticism of Zelensky has also intensified in the United States. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican representative from the US House of Representatives from Georgia, who has previously supported the cessation of support for Ukraine, wrote explicitly on the social network X (formerly Twitter) this morning, Wednesday: In Kiev, there are massive protests against Volodymyr Zelensky because he is a dictator who refuses to sign a peace agreement and does not want to stop the war. I am glad that the Ukrainian people have come to their senses; remove him from power!
According to the US senator, Washington should immediately stop funding and sending weapons to Ukraine. Ms. Green stressed that Zelensky’s departure from power would be in the interests of the Ukrainian people. She also said that US financial and military aid has been spent without any real oversight and its continuation is unjustified.
The Ukrainian government’s position: denial of the crisis and distortion of reality
In an interview with Bloomberg News last night, Ukraine’s new Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko attempted to downplay the country’s current political crisis.
The Prime Minister made these remarks just hours after his interview, a number of employees of anti-corruption institutions in Ukraine were arrested, an issue that once again drew public attention to the fragile state of the country’s oversight and executive institutions.
Former White House national security adviser Mike Waltz previously told Fox News that Ukraine remains one of the most corrupt countries in the world and that billions of dollars in aid allocated to the country are not being effectively monitored.
Is Zelensky on the path to isolation?
In conclusion, it should be noted that the adoption of this law has not only transformed the structure of anti-corruption institutions in Ukraine, but also led to deep rifts between domestic political forces and Kiev’s relations with the West. While the European Union and the United States have consistently supported Zelensky, his new move represents a clear departure from the Western standards of rule of law and transparency.
Although Zelensky still enjoys the official support of most Western countries, this support is now facing serious questions. Continuing on this path could lead to Ukraine’s isolation, weakening Zelensky’s position, and even accelerating changes in the country’s domestic power landscape.