Financial Times reports.On Tuesday, Zelenskyy signed a controversial law granting expanded authority to the prosecutor general over the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). The move, which he justified as a necessary response to infiltration by Russian agents, has been widely criticized by the EU, G7 countries, and civil society in Ukraine, sparking the largest public protests in Kyiv since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion.Valdis Dombrovskis, EU Commissioner for the Economy and a key figure in managing Ukraine’s financial aid, emphasized the importance of independent anti-corruption institutions. “These bodies are crucial to Ukraine’s reform agenda, and they must operate independently to fight corruption and to maintain public trust” he told the Financial Times. “Our current financial assistance to Ukraine is conditional on transparency, judicial reforms [and] democratic governments,” he said. “The same is true concerning Ukraine’s path towards EU accession that also will require strong capacity to combat corruption.”Brussels has long viewed corruption and judicial independence as central challenges for Ukraine’s EU membership bid. While Ukraine was granted candidate status in 2022, progress remains stalled—mainly due to Hungary’s repeated vetoes. Nevertheless, EU leaders had recently praised Kyiv for making “significant progress” on reform benchmarks and had signaled readiness to move forward once Hungarian resistance is resolved.But the latest reform threatens to derail that momentum, EU officials say.French President Emmanuel Macron and European Council President António Costa reportedly urged Zelenskyy to reconsider the legislation in recent phone calls, according to sources briefed on the conversations.The G7 ambassadors in Kyiv issued a joint statement expressing “serious concerns” over the law and signaled plans to raise the matter directly with Ukrainian leadership.Read also EU nations urge Ukraine to reconsider law undermining NABU, SAPO independenceIn response, Zelenskyy’s administration launched a late-night outreach campaign to European diplomats. Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Taras Kachka and other senior officials personally contacted foreign counterparts in an effort to explain Kyiv’s rationale and assure them the changes would not compromise institutional integrity.Kachka later wrote on X that Ukraine “remains fully committed to the rule of law and anti-corruption” and that the new legislation “does not intend to threaten” the independence of NABU and SAPO.Zelenskyy echoed that message on Wednesday following a meeting with law enforcement and anti-corruption officials. “We all face a common enemy: the Russian occupiers,” he said, stressing the need for a unified and credible justice system. “A strong and independent law enforcement and anti-corruption framework is essential for defending the Ukrainian state.”Still, EU officials remain skeptical. One senior official said Kyiv’s timing risks undermining collective efforts to show unity in support of Ukraine’s accession. “It’s like herding cats. If 26 are already wary of moving forward without Hungary, this doesn’t help,” the official said. “It’s not a good look.”The European Union has expressed serious concern over Ukraine’s recent actions involving anti-corruption agencies NABU and SAP, reminding that its financial support depends on progress in democratic governance.