Latest news with #UkraineEU
Reuters
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Zelenskiy introduces bill to 'uphold independence' of Ukraine's anti-graft bodies
KYIV, Ukraine, July 24 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Thursday submitted draft legislation to restore the independence of Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies, reversing course after an outburst of public criticism. Measures enacted earlier this week that established greater control by the prosecutor general, a political appointee, over the anti-corruption bureau NABU and the specialised prosecution unit SAPO had fuelled rare wartime protests and had thrown Kyiv's EU accession bid into question. The agencies said they had been involved in drafting the bill and urged parliament to hold a vote as soon as possible. "The bill, submitted by the president of Ukraine as urgent, restores all procedural powers and guarantees of independence to the NABU and SAPO," they said in a statement. Zelenskiy, whose image as a tireless leader of the three-year-old war against Russia's invasion has been tarnished by the controversy, said the text of the new bill is "well-balanced". He also said that the bill guarantees "reliable protection of the law enforcement system against any Russian influence", in an apparent move to justify the law hurriedly passed on Tuesday. On Monday, security forces arrested two anti-corruption officials on suspicion of ties to Russia and launched sweeping searches of other employees. Critics had decried the move to give a Zelenskiy-appointed prosecutor control over the agencies, saying it looked like political pressure on the agencies. After the law was adopted, Zelenskiy faced a severe backlash, with thousands of people joining protests across the country, even though public gatherings are restricted by martial law. "It is important that we respect the position of all Ukrainians and are grateful to everyone who stands with Ukraine," Zelenskiy said. Ukraine's international allies also rushed with vocal criticism. The International Monetary Fund said the law, curbing the agencies' authority, would be "very problematic" for the war-torn country's macroeconomic stability and growth. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz both had calls with Zelenskiy on Thursday, offering their countries' expertise on the new bill. "I invited Germany to join the expert review of the bill. Friedrich assured me of readiness to assist," Zelenskiy said on X. Ruslan Stefanchuk, the chairman of parliament, said it would be considered at the next plenary session, although MPs were meant to start their summer holiday this week. Opposition lawmakers separately registered their own legislation to revoke the restrictive measures, which had been fast-tracked with help from Zelenskiy's ruling party. "They heroically solved the problems that they created just as heroically. Grand imitators," Yaroslav Zhelezniak, from the opposition Holos party, said on Telegram.
CNN
23-07-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Ukraine sees first major anti-government protests since start of war, as Zelensky moves to weaken anti-corruption agencies
Ukraine has seen the first major anti-government protests since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion over three years ago, as a move by President Volodymyr Zelensky to curb anti-corruption agencies sparked fury across the nation. Defiant crowds gathered in the capital Kyiv on Tuesday, as well as Lviv in the west, with smaller groups gathering in Dnipro in the east and Odesa in the south, after Ukraine's Parliament — the Verkhovna Rada — approved a bill that grants oversight of two key anti-corruption agencies to the prosecutor general, a politically appointed figure. Critics say the move will hamper the two bodies, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), and take Ukraine further away from its dream of joining the European Union. The EU has made it clear to Kyiv that it must implement strong anti-graft measures if it wants to become a member. The Biden administration urged the Ukrainian government to do more to root out corruption in 2023. Ukraine has long been seen as one of the most corrupt countries in Europe. Allegations of corruption have been wielded against some of the country's top officials, including several close allies of Zelensky – such as former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov. The bill was fast-tracked through the parliament and signed into law by Zelensky late Tuesday. The Ukrainian leader said in his nightly address that both organizations would 'continue to work' but defending his move as a necessary step to rid the two agencies of 'Russian influence.' This came after Ukrainian authorities raided one of the bodies on Monday and arrested two of its employees 'on suspicion of working for Russian special services.' He also criticized the previous system as leading to cases being stalled for years. But opponents say the two agencies will no longer be able to operate independently because the new law gives the prosecutor general power to influence investigations and even shut cases down. Criticism came from all corners of society. Former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba slammed the move in a statement, calling Tuesday a 'bad day for Ukraine.' The move didn't go unnoticed on the frontlines, where the military is struggling to hold back Russian forces. Referring to corruption that the agencies were working to root out, Yegor Firsov, chief sergeant of a drone strike platoon, said on X that 'this is not a question of NABU or SAP. This is a question of barbarism,' adding that 'nothing is more demoralizing than seeing that while you are sitting in a trench, someone is robbing the country for which your brothers are dying.' Responding to the criticism on Wednesday, Zelensky said 'everyone would work solely in a constructive manner to resolve existing issues, deliver greater justice, and truly protect the interests of Ukrainian society.' The two agencies affected by the law, said in a joint statement on Wednesday that they were 'deprived of guarantees that previously enabled them to effectively carry out their tasks and functions in combating high-level corruption.' They called on the government to reverse the law. Crucially for Kyiv, the criticism is coming from both inside and outside of Ukraine, including from some of the country's key Western allies. The Ukrainian branch of Transparency International, a leading independent nonprofit group that monitors corruption around the world, previously urged Zelensky to veto the new law. It said that the new law destroys Ukraine's independent anti-corruption institutions, which it said were 'one of the greatest achievements' since pro-European protests sparked the Revolution of Dignity in 2014 that ousted pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych. The two agencies were both founded after the revolution, specifically to tackle corruption among Ukraine's top political echelon. NABU is in charge of investigation corruption allegations, passing them to SAPO to prosecute once it has gathered evidence. Transparency International also said the new law would undermine the trust of Ukraine's international partners, as a myriad of global organizations stepped in to criticize the law. Marta Kos, European Union's top official in charge of the process of admitting new member states, said she was 'seriously concerned' over the law. 'The dismantling of key safeguards protecting NABU's independence is a serious step back. Independent bodies like NABU & SAPO, are essential for (the) EU path. Rule of Law remains in the very center of EU accession negotiations,' Kos said on X. Meanwhile, the American Chamber of Commerce said the move was disappointing. It said the law 'threatens the independence of Ukraine's anti-corruption infrastructure and undermines trust in the country's anti-corruption efforts.' The Agency for Legislative Initiatives (ALI), a leading Ukrainian think tank that focuses on democracy building and scrutinizes the work of the country's parliament, said in a statement that the new law is a '180-degree turn' in European integration efforts. ALI said the law gives the Ukrainian prosecutor general 'nearly unlimited powers,' including the authority to transfer cases to different prosecutors and effectively block any investigations by pushing through administrative obstacles. The prosecutors working for SAPO have gone through a rigorous selection process that included international expert advisors, ALI said, adding they have expertise that is unparalleled in other parts of the law enforcement system. ALI also said that while the law purports to be a response to the war and the current extraordinary circumstances, it envisions the oversight of the top prosecutor to continue for three years after Ukraine's martial law is lifted. Fighting rampant government corruption was Zelensky's main campaign pledge ahead of the 2019 election. A former comedian who played Ukraine's president on a hit TV show, Zelensky had zero political experience before his victory – but he tapped into voters' dismay on the issue. During the war, Zelensky has fired a slew of senior Ukrainian officials over corruption allegations, and his government has instigated anti-corruption measures, including the National Anti-Corruption Strategy. International organizations, including the EU, the United Nations and the Group of 7 have previously praised Zelensky's government for its anti-corruption efforts. But those same organizations are now denouncing the new law – while its critics in Ukraine say Zelensky's campaign platform to rid the country of corruption was simply empty promises. CNN's Victoria Butenko, Daria Tarasova-Markina and Max Saltman contributed reporting.
CNN
23-07-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Ukraine sees first major anti-government protests since start of war, as Zelensky moves to weaken anti-corruption agencies
Ukraine has seen the first major anti-government protests since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion over three years ago, as a move by President Volodymyr Zelensky to curb anti-corruption agencies sparked fury across the nation. Defiant crowds gathered in the capital Kyiv on Tuesday, as well as Lviv in the west, with smaller groups gathering in Dnipro in the east and Odesa in the south, after Ukraine's Parliament — the Verkhovna Rada — approved a bill that grants oversight of two key anti-corruption agencies to the prosecutor general, a politically appointed figure. Critics say the move will hamper the two bodies, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), and take Ukraine further away from its dream of joining the European Union. The EU has made it clear to Kyiv that it must implement strong anti-graft measures if it wants to become a member. The Biden administration urged the Ukrainian government to do more to root out corruption in 2023. Ukraine has long been seen as one of the most corrupt countries in Europe. Allegations of corruption have been wielded against some of the country's top officials, including several close allies of Zelensky – such as former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov. The bill was fast-tracked through the parliament and signed into law by Zelensky late Tuesday. The Ukrainian leader said in his nightly address that both organizations would 'continue to work' but defending his move as a necessary step to rid the two agencies of 'Russian influence.' This came after Ukrainian authorities raided one of the bodies on Monday and arrested two of its employees 'on suspicion of working for Russian special services.' He also criticized the previous system as leading to cases being stalled for years. But opponents say the two agencies will no longer be able to operate independently because the new law gives the prosecutor general power to influence investigations and even shut cases down. Criticism came from all corners of society. Former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba slammed the move in a statement, calling Tuesday a 'bad day for Ukraine.' The move didn't go unnoticed on the frontlines, where the military is struggling to hold back Russian forces. Referring to corruption that the agencies were working to root out, Yegor Firsov, chief sergeant of a drone strike platoon, said on X that 'this is not a question of NABU or SAP. This is a question of barbarism,' adding that 'nothing is more demoralizing than seeing that while you are sitting in a trench, someone is robbing the country for which your brothers are dying.' Responding to the criticism on Wednesday, Zelensky said 'everyone would work solely in a constructive manner to resolve existing issues, deliver greater justice, and truly protect the interests of Ukrainian society.' The two agencies affected by the law, said in a joint statement on Wednesday that they were 'deprived of guarantees that previously enabled them to effectively carry out their tasks and functions in combating high-level corruption.' They called on the government to reverse the law. Crucially for Kyiv, the criticism is coming from both inside and outside of Ukraine, including from some of the country's key Western allies. The Ukrainian branch of Transparency International, a leading independent nonprofit group that monitors corruption around the world, previously urged Zelensky to veto the new law. It said that the new law destroys Ukraine's independent anti-corruption institutions, which it said were 'one of the greatest achievements' since pro-European protests sparked the Revolution of Dignity in 2014 that ousted pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych. The two agencies were both founded after the revolution, specifically to tackle corruption among Ukraine's top political echelon. NABU is in charge of investigation corruption allegations, passing them to SAPO to prosecute once it has gathered evidence. Transparency International also said the new law would undermine the trust of Ukraine's international partners, as a myriad of global organizations stepped in to criticize the law. Marta Kos, European Union's top official in charge of the process of admitting new member states, said she was 'seriously concerned' over the law. 'The dismantling of key safeguards protecting NABU's independence is a serious step back. Independent bodies like NABU & SAPO, are essential for (the) EU path. Rule of Law remains in the very center of EU accession negotiations,' Kos said on X. Meanwhile, the American Chamber of Commerce said the move was disappointing. It said the law 'threatens the independence of Ukraine's anti-corruption infrastructure and undermines trust in the country's anti-corruption efforts.' The Agency for Legislative Initiatives (ALI), a leading Ukrainian think tank that focuses on democracy building and scrutinizes the work of the country's parliament, said in a statement that the new law is a '180-degree turn' in European integration efforts. ALI said the law gives the Ukrainian prosecutor general 'nearly unlimited powers,' including the authority to transfer cases to different prosecutors and effectively block any investigations by pushing through administrative obstacles. The prosecutors working for SAPO have gone through a rigorous selection process that included international expert advisors, ALI said, adding they have expertise that is unparalleled in other parts of the law enforcement system. ALI also said that while the law purports to be a response to the war and the current extraordinary circumstances, it envisions the oversight of the top prosecutor to continue for three years after Ukraine's martial law is lifted. Fighting rampant government corruption was Zelensky's main campaign pledge ahead of the 2019 election. A former comedian who played Ukraine's president on a hit TV show, Zelensky had zero political experience before his victory – but he tapped into voters' dismay on the issue. During the war, Zelensky has fired a slew of senior Ukrainian officials over corruption allegations, and his government has instigated anti-corruption measures, including the National Anti-Corruption Strategy. International organizations, including the EU, the United Nations and the Group of 7 have previously praised Zelensky's government for its anti-corruption efforts. But those same organizations are now denouncing the new law – while its critics in Ukraine say Zelensky's campaign platform to rid the country of corruption was simply empty promises. CNN's Victoria Butenko, Daria Tarasova-Markina and Max Saltman contributed reporting.
Russia Today
03-07-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
Ukrainian membership of EU would destroy bloc's economy
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has warned that Ukrainian membership of the EU would destroy both the bloc's and his country's economy. Ukraine was granted EU candidate status in 2022, but Orban has argued that allowing the country to join the bloc would draw all members into a direct conflict with Russia. The stance has increasingly put Kiev at odds with Budapest. 'Ukrainians are increasingly attacking Hungary because we stopped Ukraine's EU accession in Brussels,' Orban wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday. Hungary could not support Ukraine's bid for 'fundamental and strategic reasons,' he explained. 'We do not want war and we do not want the European [EU], including the Hungarian, economy to be destroyed,' he said. Last week, Orban said he vetoed an EU Foreign Affairs Council statement on Ukraine, effectively blocking Kiev's accession talks, arguing that the decision was backed by popular sentiment in Hungary. More than two million Hungarians, or an overwhelming 95% of voters in an unofficial Voks 2025 referendum, voiced opposition to Ukraine's EU bid. The vote has worsened already elevated tensions with Kiev, the Magyar Nemzet newspaper wrote on Wednesday. Hungarian-Ukrainian relations have been on the downturn in recent months, rocked by Kiev's decision to block the transit of Russian gas into Hungary, as well as a spy scandal. An EU and NATO member, Hungary has long opposed both bloc's policies on supplying Kiev with weapons, and called for a diplomatic solution to the hostilities. Ukrainian accession into NATO 'would mean war with Russia, and World War 3 the very next day,' Orban said last week. Moscow has strongly opposed Ukraine's ambition to join NATO, but had taken a more neutral stance on Ukraine's EU bid. However, recently Russia has pointed out that militarization efforts are turning the EU into more of a military than an economic bloc. According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the EU has undergone a 'radical transformation' and become an 'aggressive military-political bloc.' In its current state, the EU is effectively 'an appendage of NATO,' the top diplomat said last week.
Russia Today
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Polish president-elect voices opposition to Ukraine joining EU
Ukraine must meet specific conditions before joining the European Union and cannot currently become a NATO member, Polish President-elect Karol Nawrocki said in an interview with national media on Monday. Nawrocki restated his stance on Kiev's membership aspirations on Polsat News channel, as he prepares to take over presidential duties in early August. He confirmed that he intends to meet with Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky after his inauguration. 'I am against Ukraine's unconditional accession to the European Union,' Nawrocki said. It made strategic sense for Ukraine to join the 27-strong bloc, he said, but stressed that such a partnership must be grounded in equality. Nawrocki recalled that Poland itself had to spend years meeting the EU's entry requirements. He mentioned friction between the two nations regarding Ukraine's access to the Polish agricultural market and Kiev's glorification of historical figures responsible for atrocities against Poles during World War II. 'Today, there is no possibility for Ukraine to join NATO,' Nawrocki added. He argued that Ukraine's active conflict with Russia means that all NATO countries would be dragged in, in such a case. Russia has long cited NATO's pledge to admit Ukraine, first formally declared in 2008, as a core threat to its national security. Moscow has said deepening NATO-Ukraine ties since the 2014 coup in Kiev were a key factor underlying the current conflict. The EU, originally established for economic integration, is increasingly seen in Moscow as a hostile military power in its own right. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently described it as 'essentially a branch, or rather an appendage of NATO.' Brussels has advocated a rapid military buildup across EU member states, projecting hundreds of billions of euros in defense spending as a deterrent to Moscow. Russian officials have dismissed these efforts as fear-based tactics meant to divert funding from social programs.
