The EU on Thursday welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s vow to propose a new bill on the independence of anti-graft agencies, and said Kyiv had to address concerns from Brussels.
“We have seen that the Ukrainian government has taken action,” EU spokesman Stefan de Keersmaecker said.
“We welcome that action, and indeed we work with them to make sure that these concerns regarding the fight against corruption, which is an extremely important priority for us and for Ukraine as well, are indeed correctly addressed,” he added.
Protests have erupted in war-torn Ukraine against a law signed off by Zelensky this week that removes the independence of two key anti-corruption bodies.
The move from Kyiv drew a rare rebuke from Ukraine’s European backers. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen demanded “explanations” from Zelensky.
In the face of the ire, the Ukrainian leader on Wednesday said he would propose a new bill that would “ensure the norms for the independence of anti-corruption institutions”.
The anger from Brussels -- a key wartime funder of Ukraine -- comes as Kyiv is pushing to join the 27-nation EU.
Ensuring adequate safeguards against corruption is a key demand for Ukraine as it has in the past been blighted by widespread graft.