On July 23, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced in his evening address that he is preparing a presidential draft law aimed at reinforcing the rule of law system and including provisions to guarantee the independence of anti-corruption bodies.The president reported that he held several meetings with government officials and leaders of law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies, during which participants discussed key issues, shared accumulated insights, and agreed to act together to strengthen justice and ensure inevitable punishment.An agreement was reached that the heads of these institutions will jointly prepare a concrete action plan to strengthen the legal system."I will propose to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine a bill that will be a response, one that will empower the law enforcement system. There will be no Russian influence or interference in the work of law enforcement agencies, and – very importantly – all provisions guaranteeing the independence of anti-corruption institutions will be included. I am also eagerly awaiting proposals from our group of law enforcement and anti-corruption leaders, as well as from the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, regarding the norms that need to work," Zelenskyy stated."This will be a presidential bill, and we will implement it within our state transformation strategy," the president added.Additionally, Zelenskyy signed a decree on auditing state expenditures and reducing bureaucracy. The government must provide the audit results within a month to redirect resources to defense. Steps for deregulation to support citizens are also being prepared.Zelenskyy emphasized that the main goal is to maintain unity, end the war, defeat Russian aggression, and ensure peace and a European future for Ukraine.The decree “On measures to reduce bureaucratic procedures and conduct an immediate audit of state expenditures” has already been published on the president’s website.The document aims to enhance deregulation, improve the efficiency of public spending, and concentrate resources on defense and protecting the country’s independence during martial law. The government is tasked with analyzing the work of state bodies, eliminating duplication of functions, removing inefficient regulations and interference in business, updating relevant regulatory frameworks, and preparing concrete proposals by September 1, 2025, to improve state functioning, including defense spending and protecting citizens’ economic rights.The decree takes effect immediately upon publication.On July 22, President Zelenskyy signed a bill passed by the parliament, some provisions of which limit the powers of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), subordinating their activities to the Prosecutor General. The bill’s status was changed three times: initially, it was returned with the president’s signature; later, the signature was removed; and after some time, Zelenskyy’s signature reappeared.Following the parliamentary vote, thousands of Ukrainians in major cities staged peaceful protests, demanding the president veto the law that significantly curtails the powers of anti-corruption agencies.