Ukraine's Zelenskyy undoes anti-corruption curbs but fear remains

Zelenskyy has been accused of jeopardizing Ukraine's reputation even after passing a new law ensuring the independence of anti-corruption agencies.

KYIV, Ukraine — The reversal was almost as swift as the outpouring of public fury. But the question is how much this week’s sudden crisis in Ukraine has nonetheless tarnished the talismanic image of its leader, a man crucial in rallying support at home and abroad for the fight against Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday appeared to reverse his attempt to seize sweeping powers over the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office. Saying he heard the concerns of his people and Western backers, he has now introduced a law that he said would guarantee their independence — and the agencies themselves said they were satisfied.

Many Ukrainians are eager to point out that this open-eared approach — taking immediate action to remedy the problem — is a drastic change from past administrations that dismissed or even silenced such concerns.

But some fear the damage may already be done.

“For Zelenskyy, this is a serious crisis of legitimacy,” Oleksandra Keudel, an assistant professor of public policy and governance at the Kyiv School of Economics, told NBC News in an email. “I’m not sure it’s reversible.”