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After a massive storm of criticism, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is presenting a new bill that will preserve the independence of the country's anti-corruption agency, he writes on Telegram.

The notable change in the law has been criticized by, among others, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

It is still unclear what will distinguish the new bill from the one voted through on Tuesday, but according to Zelenskyy, the country's judiciary and anti-corruption institutions will present a new joint action plan within two weeks.

“The most important thing remains not to lose the country's unity in ending the war and stopping Russian evil,” the president writes on Telegram.

“President von der Leyen expressed strong concerns about the consequences of the legal changes, and she has asked the Ukrainian government for explanations,” said Guillaume Mercier, a spokesman for the EU, in a statement.

"Respect for the rule of law and the fight against corruption are cornerstones of the EU. As a candidate country, Ukraine is expected to uphold those principles in full. There can be no compromise."

Zelenskyy defended

Zelensky has previously defended the change in the law.

“We all share a common enemy: the Russian occupiers,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram after meeting with high-ranking officials from law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies.

The president believes that the new legal framework is needed to crack down harder on corruption and promises to develop an action plan to address “weaknesses” within the system.

“Criminal cases should not drag on for years without verdicts, and those working against Ukraine must not feel comfortable or immune from punishment,” the Ukrainian leader wrote.

Large protests in Ukraine

The previous amendment to the law means that Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (Sapo) will come under the direct leadership of the Prosecutor General, who is appointed by the president.

Parliament passed the amendment on Tuesday and was immediately met with protests around the country.

The amendment opens up opportunities for political interference in investigations, according to Anastasia Radina, chairwoman of the parliament's anti-corruption committee and MP for Zelensky's ruling party.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul believes that the legal change"impedes Ukraine's path towards the EU."

“I expect Ukraine to continue its efforts in the fight against corruption with determination,” Wadephul writes in a post on X.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos believes that “independent bodies such as NABU and SAPO are fundamental to Ukraine’s path towards the EU.”