Morning opening: Ukraine faces criticism over anti-corruption companies reform
Jakub Krupa
Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s resolution to approve a contentious invoice weakening Ukraine’s anti-corruption companies is dealing with rising criticism at house and overseas – simply hours earlier than one other spherical of peace talks with Russia in Istanbul.
Final evening, about 1,500 individuals protested towards the reform in Kyiv, first urging him to veto the invoice, after which opposing his resolution to signal it into legislation. Giant protests additionally passed off in different cities.
As my colleague Luke Harding reported from Kyiv, in his nightly video handle, Zelenskyy mentioned he had spoken with the Nabu chief, Semen Kryvonos, and different prime prosecutors.
Anti-corruption our bodies, Zelenskyy mentioned, would proceed to perform “but without any Russian influence. It all must be cleansed.”
“There must be more justice. Of course, Nabu and Sapo will continue their work,” he mentioned. “It’s also important that the prosecutor general be committed to ensuring real accountability for those who break the law. This is what Ukraine truly needs.”
However worldwide criticism of the reform may show equally tough, with EU commissioners and ministers from allied nations additionally popping out towards the reform.
Enlargement commissioner Marta Kos mentioned the EU was “seriously concerned” concerning the legislation, warning that “the dismantling of key safeguards protecting Nabu’s independence is a serious step back.”
“Independent bodies like Nabu & Sapo, are essential for ’s EU path. Rule of Law remains in the very center of EU accession negotiations,” she mentioned.
She later added she had a “frank” dialog with the brand new Ukrainian prime minister, Yulia Svyrydenko.
EU defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius added:
“In war trust between the fighting nation and its leadership is more important than modern weapons – difficult to build and to keep, but easy to lose with one significant mistake by the leadership. Transparency & open European dialogue is the only way to repair the damaged trust.”
This morning the reactions proceed, with France’s European minister Benjamin Haddad saying it was not too late for Ukraine to reverse its resolution.
“It is not too late to go back on this,” he informed France Inter radio. “We will be extremely vigilant on the subject.”
Elsewhere, I will likely be keeping track of the peace talks in Istanbul, the federal government reshuffle in Poland, and the assembly of France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Friedrich Merz in Berlin tonight.
I’ll convey you all key updates from throughout Europe right this moment.
It’s Wednesday, 23 July 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa right here, and that is Europe Stay.
Good morning.
Key occasions
Germany expects Ukraine to proceed combating corruption, minister says
Germany is the newest European nation to hitch in expressing considerations about Ukraine’s newest anti-corruption reform.
The nation’s international minister Johann Wadephul mentioned in a social media publish that he anticipated “Ukraine to continue with determination its efforts in combating corruption.”
He that the restriction of the anti-corruption companies’ independence may very well be a problem for Ukraine’s path to hitch the EU.
Individually, German newspaper Bild additionally reported that Wadephul spoke along with his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybiha concerning the reform.
Again to Russia-Ukraine talks, AFP simply reported, quoting a supply within the Turkish ministry of international affairs, that the negotiations will begin at 4pm GMT, in order that’s 5pm London time and 6pm CEST in giant components of Europe.
EU to proceed talks with US on commerce, tariffs
The EU has additionally confirmed that commerce commissioner Maroš Šefčovič will converse with US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick this afternoon as they proceed talks on the EU-US commerce relations forward of subsequent month’s deadline for tariffs.
He’ll then debrief EU ambassadors on the dialog.
EU commerce spokesperson Olof Gill mentioned “the EU’s primary focus is on achieving a negotiated outcome with the US.”
However he added that the bloc was additionally getting ready for different situations, together with potential countermeasures:
“Whereas our precedence is negotiations, we proceed in parallel to arrange for all outcomes together with potential extra countermeasures.
To make our countermeasures clearer, easier, and stronger, we are going to merge lists 1 & 2 right into a single listing (not coming into into impact till 07/08) and submit this to [Member States] for approval.”
EU needs to work carefully with Japan to ‘counter financial coercion’, develop commerce ties
Jennifer Rankin
Individually, the EU has vowed to work extra carefully with Japan to “counter economic coercion and address unfair trade” at a summit meant to shore up the multilateral world order.
EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa met Japan’s prime minister Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday, the place the 2 sides pledged to deepen their ties on commerce and defence, citing their dedication to “a stable and predictable rules-based free and fair economic order”.
Von der Leyen mentioned they’d agreed to work “closely together to counter economic coercion and to address unfair trade practices”.
No names talked about, however the EU has an extended listing of complaints about China and is at present embroiled in tough commerce talks with Donald Trump’s White Home.
On Thursday von der Leyen and Costa are due in Beijing to fulfill President Xi Jinping for what is ready to be a a lot frostier encounter.
Von der Leyen additionally congratulated Ishiba for negotiating a tariffs settlement with the US, however didn’t touch upon the EU’s personal negotiations with Washington.
Europe and Japan, she mentioned, accounted for one-fifth of worldwide GDP, with a market of 600 million individuals. Commerce had elevated by 20%, she mentioned, for the reason that entry into pressure of the EU-Japan commerce settlement in 2019, however mentioned extra wanted to be completed to “unlock the full potential” of the deal, in areas resembling authorities procurement and meals and animal well being requirements.
She mentioned the EU and Japan hoped to conclude this yr negotiations to convey the Asian nation into the bloc’s Horizon analysis funding programme.
The 2 sides additionally agreed tighter cooperation on defence and safety, together with maritime, cyber, house and countering hybrid threats. Japan was the primary nation exterior Europe to signal a defence and safety pact with the EU.
The tone was harking back to the EU’s latest summits with Canada and the UK, a second to shore up alliances with predictable associates in a turbulent world.
Again to Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul, the Ukrainian delegation is definitely additionally getting shut now as Zelenskyy’s prime aide Andriy Yermak simply posted his typically visual-based touch upon the newest occasions: a flag of Turkey.
I’ll control these occasions to convey you all the newest.
‘All of us hear what society says,’ Zelenskyy says as he guarantees ‘motion plan’ on anti-corruption inside two weeks
Again to Ukraine, the nation’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with anti-corruption and safety officers pledging to attract up a plan to battle corruption inside the subsequent two weeks as he seeks to deal with the general public frustration with the rushed reform on this space.
In a publish on Telegram, he mentioned:
“A really needed assembly, a frank and helpful dialog that actually helps.
All of us have a standard enemy – the Russian occupiers, and the safety of the Ukrainian state presupposes ample power of the legislation enforcement and anti-corruption techniques, and subsequently – an actual sense of justice.”
Responding to final evening’s protests, he mentioned:
“All of us hear what society says. We see what individuals anticipate from state establishments to make sure justice and the effectivity of every establishment.
We mentioned the mandatory administrative and legislative selections that can permit us to strengthen the work of every establishment, resolve present contradictions, and remove threats. Everybody will work collectively, and we are going to help them on the political stage.”
The group will current an in depth plan on “what steps are needed and will be implemented to strengthen Ukraine and eliminate existing issues, provide more justice, and truly protect the interests of Ukrainian society” inside the subsequent two weeks, he added.
Polish PM Tusk reshuffles authorities to regain momentum after presidential defeat
Again to Warsaw, Polish PM Donald Tusk mentioned the federal government wanted to “get its act together” after shedding the presidential election in June as he offered his new cupboard.
Amongst key adjustments, he tasked the finance minister, Andrzej Domański, with overseeing all financial departments within the authorities.
He additionally promoted international minister Radosław Sikorski, giving him the title of the deputy prime minister on prime of his portfolio.
The complete variety of cupboard ministers was diminished from 26 to 21, with a variety of senior posts additionally reshuffled.
The most recent CBOS ballot reveals that simply 32% of Poles help for the federal government, with 48% towards. Tusk’s private rankings are even decrease, with 59% not proud of the prime minister, and 31% happy along with his work.
The most recent polls present the opposition populist-right Regulation and Justice social gathering, which led Poland 2015 to 2023, forward of the biggest coalition social gathering, Civic Coalition, with the far-right Confederation social gathering within the third place.
The following parliamentary election is predicted within the autumn of 2027.
Russian delegation en path to Istanbul for talks with Ukraine
In the meantime, a Russian delegation departed from Moscow for Turkey to carry a 3rd spherical of peace negotiations with Ukraine, Reuters mentioned, quoting Russian information companies.
These talks are anticipated later right this moment, and can convey you all the important thing updates.
Jakub Krupa
Elsewhere, Polish prime minister Donald Tusk is presenting his new cupboard in Warsaw after a significant reshuffle within the aftermath of the misplaced presidential election in June.
I’ll maintain monitoring this and produce you an extended replace later.
If you wish to stand up up to now on what’s happening Ukraine, verify our each day briefing right here:
Morning opening: Ukraine faces criticism over anti-corruption companies reform
Jakub Krupa
Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s resolution to approve a contentious invoice weakening Ukraine’s anti-corruption companies is dealing with rising criticism at house and overseas – simply hours earlier than one other spherical of peace talks with Russia in Istanbul.
Final evening, about 1,500 individuals protested towards the reform in Kyiv, first urging him to veto the invoice, after which opposing his resolution to signal it into legislation. Giant protests additionally passed off in different cities.
As my colleague Luke Harding reported from Kyiv, in his nightly video handle, Zelenskyy mentioned he had spoken with the Nabu chief, Semen Kryvonos, and different prime prosecutors.
Anti-corruption our bodies, Zelenskyy mentioned, would proceed to perform “but without any Russian influence. It all must be cleansed.”
“There must be more justice. Of course, Nabu and Sapo will continue their work,” he mentioned. “It’s also important that the prosecutor general be committed to ensuring real accountability for those who break the law. This is what Ukraine truly needs.”
However worldwide criticism of the reform may show equally tough, with EU commissioners and ministers from allied nations additionally popping out towards the reform.
Enlargement commissioner Marta Kos mentioned the EU was “seriously concerned” concerning the legislation, warning that “the dismantling of key safeguards protecting Nabu’s independence is a serious step back.”
“Independent bodies like Nabu & Sapo, are essential for ’s EU path. Rule of Law remains in the very center of EU accession negotiations,” she mentioned.
She later added she had a “frank” dialog with the brand new Ukrainian prime minister, Yulia Svyrydenko.
EU defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius added:
“In war trust between the fighting nation and its leadership is more important than modern weapons – difficult to build and to keep, but easy to lose with one significant mistake by the leadership. Transparency & open European dialogue is the only way to repair the damaged trust.”
This morning the reactions proceed, with France’s European minister Benjamin Haddad saying it was not too late for Ukraine to reverse its resolution.
“It is not too late to go back on this,” he informed France Inter radio. “We will be extremely vigilant on the subject.”
Elsewhere, I will likely be keeping track of the peace talks in Istanbul, the federal government reshuffle in Poland, and the assembly of France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Friedrich Merz in Berlin tonight.
I’ll convey you all key updates from throughout Europe right this moment.
It’s Wednesday, 23 July 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa right here, and that is Europe Stay.
Good morning.
