Ukrainians protest the legislation curbing the independence of anti-corruption institutions, Kyiv, July 24, 2025 (Reuters)

EA on France 24: Assessing the Latest Ukraine-Russia Talks

Thursday’s Coverage: Zelensky Promises Revised Approach to Anti-Corruption Agencies

Map: Institute for the Study of War

UPDATE 1455 GMT:

With a verbose statement full of jargon, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has ruled out a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in the near future.

A meeting at the highest level can and must put an end to the settlement and fix the modalities of these agreements, which are to be developed during expert work. It is impossible to do otherwise.

Is it possible to go through such a complex process in 30 days? Well, obviously, it is unlikely.

UPDATE 1450 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky says he has reached an agreement with Donald Trump on the sale of Ukrainian drones to the US.

Zelensky estimated the potential contract at between $10 billion and $30 billion.

UPDATE 1201 GMT:

At least one civilian has been murdered and 12 injured, including a child, in the latest Russian attacks on Ukraine’s second city Kharkiv.

A glide bomb targeted the Industrialnyi district around 11:40 a.m. It hit a medical facility, breaking through the roof of the building, and a nearby house.

Four people were hospitalized.

On Thursday, 43 people were wounded as a glide bomb hit a residential high-rise building. They were among at least three civilians killed and at least 69 others injured in 24 hours.

Air defenses downed 54 of 61 drones. Russia also launched two ballistic missiles.

Two civilians were slain in the Donetsk region in the east and one in the Sumy region in the northeast.

Casualties were also reported in the Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions.

UPDATE 1153 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodomyr Zelensky has denied speaking with European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen about legislation concerning anti-corruption agencies, telling reporters:

I have not communicated with Ursula von der Leyen in recent days. Everything that was written about it, everything that she allegedly told me, is a fake. We did not have a conversation.

Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier said on Wednesday that Von der Leyen raised “strong concerns” and asked Zelensky to explain the legislation.

UPDATE 0951 GMT:

Parliamentary chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk says the Verkhovna Rada will consider President Volodymyr Zelensky’s revised anti-corruption legislation during an emergency session on July 31.

“During the consideration of this bill, I will propose that it be adopted immediately, both as a basis and in full, and that its urgent signing be supported,” Stefanchuk said.

UPDATE 0929 GMT:

In a press release, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has acknowledged that there should “probably have been more of a dialogue” before his signing of Parliamentary amendments curbing anti-corruption agencies.

He said he “listened and responded adequately” to concerns, proposing new legislation to re-establish the independence of the agencies.

The President tried to return attention to defense against Russia’s invasion: “I am focused on the issue of the war because right now, the number one issue in Ukraine is the war. The biggest problem is the war. The main enemy is Russia.”

He said he is pursuing the funding for 10 Patriot air defense systems to be purchased from the US via NATO countries.

Earlier this week Germany Defense Minister Boris Pistorius indicated that an initial agreement has been reached with the US on obtaining five Patriot systems.

Zelensky said Germany will finance two Patriot systems and Norway will pay for one, with further talks underway.

Commenting on Wednesday’s third round of talks with Russia, Zelensky said — in contrast to the Kremlin’s rejection — of his proposal for a face-to-face meeting with Vladimir Putin: “In talks with us, they have begun to discuss it. This is already progress toward some kind of meeting format.”

In his nightly address to the nation, Zelensky spoke about the revised anti-corruption legislation:

UPDATE 0640 GMT:

In its second military aid package in two days, the Trump Administration has approved $180 million for air defenses, and $150 million in maintenance, repair, and overhaul for M109 self-propelled howitzers.

On Wednesday, the US announced sales, worth $322 million, of Hawk surface-to-air missiles and Bradley infantry fighting vehicles.

UPDATE 0637 GMT:

Three family members displaced by Moscow’s invasion have been killed by a Russian attack on the Kharkiv region in northeast Ukraine.

The father, mother and son fled to the village of Pidlyman after Russian forces invaded their town.

In Kharkiv city, a Russian strike injured 33 people, including a 10-year-old girl, a 17-year-old boy, and a 17-year-old girl.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Ukraine’s anti-corruption agency has supported President Volodymyr Zelensky’s revised legislation over its relationship to the Government.

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) said the bill, submitted to Parliament on Thursday “restores all [its] procedural powers and guarantees of independence” as well as those of the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO).

NABU said both agencies took part in the preparation of the new law. They urged the Parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, “to adopt the president’s initiative…in its entirety as soon as possible. This will prevent threats to criminal proceedings brought by NABU and SAPO.”

Zelensky’s revision on Thursday came less than 48 hours after he signed Parliamentary amendments which put the Prosecutor General in charge of both agencies.

Critics, including thousands of protesters across Ukrainian cities and the European Union, said the Prosecutor General could shut down anti-corruption investigations. They expressed concern that Parliament and Zelensky were trying to protect officials, including in the President’s office, under suspicion.

The European Union welcomed the revision. A spokesperson said: “We provide significant financial support to Ukraine and this is conditional to progress and transparency, judicial reform and democratic governance.”

European leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, spoke with Zelensky throughout Thursday to drive home the message.

Protesters are now pressing for the immediate return of the Verkhovna Rada, which adjourned on Wednesday for a four-week summer recess.

Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Action Center said the revision would “restore the principles previously dismantled by the Verkhovna Rada”.

This is the result of exceptionally incredible Ukrainians who have shown the authorities in recent days that they will not allow their European future to be destroyed.

However, even one week of delay can be enough to destroy a bunch of NABU and SAPO proceedings against top corrupt officials.