KYIV, Ukraine, July 31, (AP): Ukraine’s Parliament on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a bill presented by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that restores the independence of two of the country’s key anti-corruption watchdogs, reversing his contentious move last week that curbed their power and brought an outcry.

Last week’s measure by Zelenskyy to place the watchdogs under the oversight of the prosecutor-general prompted rebukes from Ukrainians, the European Union and international rights groups. It raised fears that the government could meddle in investigations and potentially shield its supporters from scrutiny. Fighting entrenched corruption is crucial for Ukraine’s aspirations to join the EU and maintain access to billions of dollars of vital Western aid in the nearly 3½-year all-out war.

It's also an effort that enjoys broad public support. Zelenskyy said he signed the bill into law less than two hours after its approval - an unusually speedy procedure for legislation. "It guarantees normal, independent work for anti-corruption bodies and all law enforcement agencies in our state,” Zelenskyy said of the new law.

"A truly productive day with real impact for the people.” EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, who called last week’s legislative changes "a serious step back,” welcomed approval of the bill, saying lawmakers had "corrected last week’s damaging vote.” "Today’s law restores key safeguards, but challenges remain,” Kos, who monitors the record of countries that are candidates to join the bloc, wrote on X.

"The EU supports (Ukrainian) citizens’ demands for reform. Upholding fundamental values & fighting corruption must remain the priority.” Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that Ukraine "is committed to reforms and the fight against corruption,” and that Zelenskyy "demonstrated a principled approach.” "We got it fixed,” he wrote on X.