Constanze Stelzenmüller

This* is going to become my standard response to everything. You’re welcome. *now with improved eyeroll because, you know, standards

It’s no exaggeration that Ukrainian public opinion is in an absolute firestorm after the parliament today approved a law essentially dismantling independent anti-corruption agencies, just days after SBU raided key investigators. The law isn’t enacted until Zelensky signs it — and…

Also a reminder that Ukraine, unlike Russia, is a democracy with a strong civil society, despite all its problems. No such protests would be allowed for a second in Moscow.

Ukraine: Warum unabhängige Institutionen gegen Korruption notwendig sind, aber Institutionen, die gar keiner kontrollieren kann, auch anfällig für russischen Einfluss. Wir nehmen uns Zeit für Differenzierung und unaufgeregte Analyse ⁦⁦@ZDFheute⁩ zdf.de/video/magazine…

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Russia’s precision campaign of surgical air strikes against Ukrainian strategic military infrastructure continues. Last night’s target: the historic Odesa fruit and vegetable market, Privoz.

Nehme die Proteste hier in #Kyiv auch heute als friedlich und konstruktiv wahr. So viele junge Menschen, die selbstbewusst ihre Stimme erheben und geneinsam für ein demokratisches Land mit unabhängigen Institutionen kämpfen. Genau das unterscheidet die Ukraine von Russland. @welt

Today, we had a substantive meeting with the G7 ambassadors focused on one of the most important areas – anti-corruption policy. The Ukrainian Government is fully committed to zero tolerance for corruption. This principle will be clearly reflected in the government action plan.…

Signaling a possible concession, Zelenskyy said Wednesday evening he had heard concerns about his move to strip Nabu and Sapo of their independence, and he would soon submit a new bill to parliament in response. ft.com/content/ef23be…

„Damit sind die Einstufung der AfD als rechtsextremistischer Verdachtsfall die Einstufung der inzwischen aufgelösten "Jungen Alternative" als gesichert rechtsextremistisch … rechtskräftig“ Rechtsextremer Verdachtsfall: Gericht weist AfD-Beschwerde ab zdfheute.de/politik/deutsc…

FT reporting EU close to accepting 15% US tariffs with some bells and whistles. As I suspected the Japan deal changed the equation: “Japan made clear the terms of the shakedown,” said one EU diplomat. “Most member states are holding their noses and could take this deal.”

Trump’s decision to give Russia 50 more days to wage war on Ukraine without further penalty has halted a bipartisan push in the Senate to impose harsh new sanctions on countries that do business with Moscow. @RobertJimison nytimes.com/2025/07/23/us/…

The third round of Russia-Ukraine talks has wrapped up in Istanbul, per Russian state media. Tass says they have agreed to new prisoner swaps, including civilians as well as soldiers. We await statements from the delegations.

Präsident Selenskyj wird ein neues Gesetz ins Parlament einbringen, dass die Unabhängigkeit der Antikorruptionsbehörden in der Ukraine wieder stärkt. Offenbar haben die Proteste in der Ukraine und deutluche Interventionen der EU-Kommission gewirkt.

Ukrainian lawmakers say they expect to gather in a session already next week to vote on a new bill, to be introduced by Zelensky, that would restore the independence of the NABU and SAP anti-corruption bodies.

A huge & unforced error by Zelensky, right when White House policy looked to be moving in a slightly more favourable direction for him.

Indeed. Ukrainians are formidably resilient

“the vote to undermine Ukraine’s most consequential anti-corruption reforms casts a shadow over the country’s future course. Ukraine has been building up to this moment for several weeks, with what appears to be a growing crackdown on internal dissent” economist.com/europe/2025/07…

This is a bad development, and not helpful to Ukraine’s EU accession process. Hopefully Kyiv will reconsider!

A European Commission spokesperson warned that the move could hold back Ukraine’s bid to join the EU and pointed out that Brussels’ funding to Kyiv was “conditional on progress on transparency, judicial reform and democratic government”. ft.com/content/21cf3d… via @FT

Devastating: Extreme right polling neck-to-neck with chancellor Merz’s CDU for 1st time (Merz has promised to halve support for the AfD); SPD numbers continue to decline. The coalition badly needs to get a grip on domestic policy issues (record debt, government dysfunctionality)