Zelensky defied senior US officials on controversial corruption law

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1. ***The Telegraph reports:***

   Volodymyr Zelensky defied senior US officials who told him not to pass a controversial corruption law.

   Top officials within the Trump administration warned the Ukrainian leader not to [strip the country’s two key anti-corruption agencies](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/07/24/zelensky-ukraine-democracy-protests-corruption/) of their autonomy but were ignored, a senior congressional aide told The Telegraph.

   “It had been communicated to the Ukrainians that this was not a smart idea,” the source said. “This was communicated with the hope that Zelensky would veto it.”

   On Wednesday, Mr Zelensky was [forced into an embarrassing U-turn](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/07/23/ukraine-intelligence-chief-zelensky-tear-country-apart/) after thousands of protesters descended onto the streets of Kyiv to demand that the president back down amid widespread international condemnation.

   Mr Zelensky said he had “heard what people are saying” and submitted draft legislation on Thursday to restore the watchdogs’ independence, urging parliament to hold a vote as soon as possible.

   However, the bruising encounter has [tarnished the president’s reputation](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/07/24/zelensky-must-go-for-sake-of-ukraine/) as a tireless wartime leader standing up to Russian aggression, and could have damaging international ramifications.

   **Read more:** [**https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2025/07/25/zelensky-defied-senior-us-officials-on-corruption-law/**](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2025/07/25/zelensky-defied-senior-us-officials-on-corruption-law/)

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