Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he has approved the text of a draft law guaranteeing the freedom of two anti-corruption bodies in Ukraine - days after nationwide protests broke out over changes curbing their independence. Kyiv's Western partners had also expressed serious concerns over the legislation.

Mr Zelensky faced unprecedented pushback after signing a law that handed control of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Nabu) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (Sapo) over to the prosecutor general, a position directly appointed by the president.

President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed criticism of the controversial new law that strips Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies of independence, saying on July 24 that there should have been a dialogue between parliament and society before its adoption.