On Thursday, Zelensky backtracked, saying the new bill was intended to safeguard the independence of Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Nabu) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (Sap), and to protect them from Russian influence.

Thousands of people gathered in the capital and other cities across Ukraine on Tuesday evening to urge President Volodymyr Zelensky to veto the controversial bill.

The European Commission slashed nearly €1.5 billion in aid and warned that Kyiv’s EU future depends on shielding anti-corruption bodies investigating the president’s inner circle.