EU Urges Ukraine to Safeguard Anti-Corruption Reforms as Zelenskiy Pushes New Legislation

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Sunday to uphold the independence of anti-corruption institutions, emphasizing their critical role in Ukraine’s EU accession process. The call came days after Zelenskiy backtracked on a controversial bill that would have weakened the autonomy of Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies, submitting new draft legislation to restore their independence instead. “Ukraine must build on these solid foundations and preserve independent anti-corruption bodies, which are cornerstones of Ukraine’s rule of law,” von der Leyen wrote on X following their discussion.

Zelenskiy, who faced rare public criticism from Western allies over the initial proposal, signaled that the revised bill could be passed as early as next week. “We share the same vision: it is important that the bill is adopted without delay,” he said in his own post, thanking the EU for its technical support. The swift legislative action marks an effort to reassure Brussels and other international partners that Kyiv remains committed to reforms despite the pressures of war.

The dispute over anti-corruption safeguards highlights the delicate balance Ukraine must strike between wartime governance and meeting EU demands for institutional transparency. Von der Leyen reiterated the bloc’s backing for Kyiv’s membership aspirations, stating, “Ukraine can count on our support to deliver progress on its European path.” However, the episode underscores lingering concerns in Brussels about the resilience of Ukraine’s reform momentum as fatigue over the nearly two-year-old war grows among Western donors.

The legislation, if passed promptly, could help mend fences with EU officials ahead of a critical February summit where Ukraine hopes to secure progress in accession talks. But with Kyiv still grappling with systemic corruption and the demands of a grinding conflict, the coming weeks will test whether Zelenskiy’s government can translate its pledges into durable institutional safeguards—a key requirement for advancing Ukraine’s European integration.