Volodymyr Zelensky's decision to sign a bill targeting the independence of anti-corruption agencies followed mounting investigations that involved high-ranking officials and those close to the president.

On Thursday, Zelensky backtracked, saying the new bill was intended to safeguard the independence of Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Nabu) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (Sap), and to protect them from Russian influence.

Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, co-author of a bill on new sanctions against Russia, has responded to mass protests in Ukraine against a controversial law on anti-corruption agencies. Source: Richard Blumenthal on X (Twitter),