US Senator: Zelensky’s Credibility Hinges on Anti-Corruption Commitments

US Senator Richard Blumenthal said Friday that President Volodymyr Zelensky’s international credibility and future support from allies depend on his ability to restore trust in the country’s anti-corruption institutions, days after mass protests erupted in Kyiv over a controversial new law.

“Ukrainians are demonstrating democracy in action,” Blumenthal wrote in a tweet that included a Reuters image of Zelensky. “I hope Zelenskyy will continue to show transparency & anti-corruption commitment. His credibility & support depend on it.”

The comments came after Zelensky introduced new draft legislation to restore the independence of Ukraine’s top anti-corruption bodies – the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) – after signing a bill earlier this week that would strip them of their independence and power. 

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The reversal followed days of growing protests in Kyiv’s city center, where thousands of mostly young Ukrainians rallied outside the presidential office, calling the rollback a betrayal of post-Maidan values.

On Thursday afternoon, Zelensky’s office approved new legislation designed to uphold the independence of NABU and SAPO, saying the changes restore balance in the legal framework.

“I’ve just approved the text of a draft bill that guarantees real strengthening of Ukraine’s law enforcement system, independence of anti-corruption agencies, and reliable protection of the law enforcement system against any Russian influence or interference,” Zelensky said that night.

“The text is well-balanced.”

Blumenthal, a member of the powerful US Senate Armed Services and Judiciary committees, has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine since the full-scale Russian invasion began in February 2022.

Alongside Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Blumenthal introduced the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 in April, urging for “bone-crushing” sanctions to cripple Russia’s war machine.

If Moscow refuses to negotiate peace or continues its aggression past that period – counting from Trump’s July 14 warning – the legislation authorizes the president to impose severe sanctions, including up to 500% tariffs on countries buying Russian energy products such as oil, gas, and uranium.

Graham and Blumenthal aim to secure votes and pass the bill before Congress’s August recess, aligning with the deadline’s urgency, per the AP. 

But lawmakers from both parties are still debating how to structure future sanctions against Russia after Trump promised to act unilaterally if the Kremlin fails to meet his 50-day peace deadline.

Some Congressional members from both sides of the aisle have attempted to force a vote on additional Ukraine funding and sanctions by bypassing party leadership. 

The bipartisan push reflects growing concern that corruption scandals in Kyiv could weaken US war support – particularly if anti-graft institutions are seen as politicized or defanged.

Zelensky’s office has insisted the president remains committed to transparency, but critics say the damage is already done.

EU officials warned that Kyiv’s international credibility could suffer if reforms are not urgently enacted. 

“Seriously concerned over today’s vote in the Rada,” EU’s enlargement commissioner Marat Kos wrote on social media. “The dismantling of key safeguards protecting NABU’s independence is a serious step back.”

At the same time, pressure is mounting on Russia. 

The UK this week unveiled new sanctions targeting Moscow’s shadow fleet of oil tankers used to circumvent price caps.

And the US Senate passed a resolution condemning Russia’s mass abduction of Ukrainian children as a war crime, citing evidence of forced deportations.