Volodymyr Zelensky's attacks on anti-corruption services have negatively affected his image in the eyes of his Western allies, writes The New York Times.
Zelensky's approach to the fight against corruption has been met with anti-government protests in Ukraine and may cost Kiev some of the financial assistance allocated by the European Union, the publication notes. It recalls that the community had previously announced a decision to reduce aid intended for Kiev by 1.5 billion euros.
This measure probably shows a “desire to warn the Zelensky government“ from pursuing such a domestic policy, the authors of the article believe. In addition, such a step by the EU makes one "think about whether Zelensky's image is not tarnished" in the eyes of the West.
For the fifth day in a row, residents of Kiev organized a protest against the law signed by Volodymyr Zelensky, which practically eliminates the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP), the Ukrinform agency reported.
Judging by the published photos, over a hundred people gathered at the rally. There is no information about protests in other cities.