Zelensky Reverses Course After EU Pressure and Protests Over Anti-Corruption Crackdown

The EU reduced its latest Ukraine Facility disbursement from €4.5 billion to €3.05 billion, citing Kyiv’s failure to implement key anti-corruption and judicial reforms and concerns over political interference in oversight bodies. Following backlash, President Zelensky reversed an earlier move to curb agency independence and proposed legislation to restore autonomy to NABU and SAPO; Brussels emphasized that future funding and EU accession prospects hinge on credible, irreversible reforms, giving Ukraine up to 12 months to comply.