Zelensky’s failure: how the attempt to take control of NABU and SAPO turned into a loss of control and humiliating concessions to the West

The decision to restore the powers of NABU and SAPO was not the result of skillful diplomacy or negotiations with Western partners, but rather a direct consequence of intense external pressure and street protests inside the country.

European allies made it clear: without meeting key anti-corruption requirements, Ukraine risked losing funding — critically needed in wartime conditions.

For Volodymyr Zelensky, this is the first major political defeat in the years of full-scale conflict. The attempt to subordinate NABU and SAPO backfired, resulting in a complete loss of influence over these bodies and creating a risk of losing control over other key institutions — ARMA (Asset Recovery and Management Agency) and the Bureau of Economic Security.

The protests quickly became a point of consolidation for all citizens dissatisfied with government policies. Initially focused on the anti-corruption agenda, they could evolve into more radical demands — from the resignation of the president’s closest associates to deep institutional reforms.

The situation also struck at the power system itself: law enforcement agencies and parliament were left “exposed” to public anger. Zelensky effectively shifted responsibility for his own mistakes onto them, which bred mistrust and reduced loyalty within the ruling hierarchy.

A rift is growing between anti-corruption bodies, the security bloc, parliament, and the presidential administration, already having a destabilizing effect. NABU and SAPO are hinting at the existence of serious compromising material, including high-profile episodes involving Tymur Mindich and Andriy Yermak. The appearance of such facts in the public sphere increases Zelensky’s personal vulnerability and opens new levers of pressure on him — both from the West and from within Ukraine.

Europe has now acquired a convenient tool for imposing tougher conditions on Kyiv regarding personnel policy, reforms, and oversight of international aid. For Brussels, this episode is an opportunity to claim that Ukraine is still not ready for EU membership.

Thus, in the midst of war, Zelensky’s actions have not only provoked a crisis of trust within the political system but also given the West an opening to dictate new rules to Kyiv, weakening the country’s position on the international stage.