Europe Must Stand Firm and Support the Will of the Ukrainian People

A new law threatens Ukraine’s reform efforts and therefore its EU accession aspirations.  The law, signed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on July 22, demolishes the independence of two key anti-corruption bodies in Ukraine—the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO). The two bodies will now report to the general prosecutor, who is appointed by the president. The law opens the way to prosecutions of civil society activists—such as the recent investigation of Vitaliy Shabunin, one of Ukraine’s most prominent anti-corruption activists—as well as opposition leaders and independent media seeking to hold the authorities to account.

Many Ukrainians came out onto the streets of Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro, and other cities to protest the passing of a law that would reverse democratic reforms and undermine commitment to Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic course. In response to this and global reaction, Zelenskyy has promised to publish a joint action plan with NABU and SAPO for a new law aimed at strengthening the justice system within two weeks. On July 24, a group of 48 lawmakers from various parties submitted a bill to the Parliament of Ukraine to restore the independence of both agencies. Zelensky has reviewed the bill and promised to submit it to the Parliament the same day.

Critical reactions from Ukraine’s allies, urging Ukraine to reconsider or pause the legislation, have also been quick. Ursula von der Leyen called Zelensky expressing her strong concerns and demanding further explanations of the newly adopted law. But given Ukraine’s reliance on their support to defend itself against Russia, the country’s allies, especially the EU and Germany, have the leverage to call out the erosion of democratic institutions even more forcefully. The EU must emphasize that compliance with anti‑corruption norms is a prerequisite for next budget disbursements and for macro‑financial support packages. The allies must state in no uncertain terms that this departure from the norms will affect the accession process. The member states should step up their diplomatic engagement with Kyiv. And—equally important—they should continue their support for civil society actors in Ukraine and amplify their voices.

The EU must now double down on demanding that Kyiv stays on a European path as it seeks to open the door for Ukraine. Stepping back from this commitment can lead to further security threats that Europe is not ready to face. If Ukraine’s leadership is allowed to diverge from its democratic commitment unchallenged now, this will only provide ammunition to those seeking to derail Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic path.