Zelenskyy promises safeguards after protests against anti-corruption laws – state
Anti-corruption watchdogs in Ukraine were still conducting street protests across the country on Thursday despite President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s attempt to undermine tensions with a commitment to legislative safeguards.
After meeting with heads of Ukraine’s major anti-corruption and security agencies, Zelensky promised to adopt its recommendations by introducing a parliamentary bill to strengthen the rule of law.
“It’s very important: All norms of independence of anti-corruption agencies will be implemented,” Zelenskyy said in his night video speech late Wednesday.
Zelenskyy acknowledged the controversy caused by the new corruption law, which has also attracted reprimand from EU officials and international rights groups.
“It’s not deaf,” Zelenskyy said of the complaint. “We’ve analyzed all the issues that need to be changed, and all aspects of everything that need to be strengthened.”
However, he has no guarantee of revoking the law he approved.
Although Zelenskyy vetoed the legislation, legislation passed this week vetoed the legislation, which strengthened government oversight of two major anti-corruption agencies. Critics say this step could significantly weaken the independence of these institutions and make Zelenskyy’s circle more impact on the investigation.
The protests did not call for Zelenskyy’s strike. But the first major anti-government demonstration since the war came during a difficult period in Ukraine’s three-year battle that thwarted the Russian invasion.
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Russia’s army is accelerating its efforts to pierce Ukraine’s front-line defense capabilities and gradually bombard its bombing of Ukrainian cities. Ukraine also faces a question mark on whether the United States will provide more military aid and whether Europe’s commitment to endure slackness.
Delegations from Russia and Ukraine held a third round of negotiations in Istanbul in a few months on Wednesday. However, the negotiations were short again and no major breakthrough was achieved.
Zelenskyy insisted earlier Wednesday that a new legal framework is needed to work harder on corruption. Fighting deep-rooted corruption is crucial to Ukraine’s desire to join the EU and maintain its multibillion-dollar Western aid in the war.
“A criminal case should not be delayed for years without a sentence, and those who fight against Ukraine are not allowed to feel comfortable or exempt from punishment,” he said.
Meanwhile, Russian planes dropped two powerful taxi bombs in the center of Kharkif, Ukraine’s second largest city, on Thursday morning. He said at least 16 people were injured, including a 10-year-old girl who suffered an acute stress response.
Authorities said that the Ukrainian cities of Odessa and Cherkass in central Ukraine were also spread overnight. Officials said drones and missiles attacked 11 people on the city, including a 9-year-old historic landmark and residential buildings.
Ukraine is trying to use domestic technology and manufacturing to strengthen its own long-range drone attacks on Russia.
Ukrainian drones attacked the Russian Black Sea Sochi resort overnight, killing two women and injuring 11 other people, local authorities said Thursday.
Officials said an oil warehouse was attacked and no details were provided.
& Copy 2025 Canadian Press
