Volodymyr Zelensky has U-turned on a move to loosen his country's anti-corruption rules after mass protests and international fury.
The Ukrainian President, who has endured more than three years of Russian invasion, signed off on a law on Tuesday which would have restricted the power of his country's anti-corruption agencies.
Tens of thousands then took to the streets in protest across the country in the largest anti-Government demonstrations since Vladimir Putin's 2022 invasion.
Protesters were heard shouting "shame" and demanding that Zelensky urgently "veto the law".
Now, after tense talks with Sir Keir Starmer, he has backed down.
The Ukrainian premier said he discussed the legislation with the PM, who "suggested involving experts who could contribute to long-term co-operation on anti-corruption initiatives".
Volodymyr Zelensky U-turns on corruption 'power grab' after fury erupts in UkraineHe also took to national TV to try and cool the demonstrations on Wednesday night, vowing that "everyone has heard what people are saying".
"It's not falling on deaf ears," he added.
Elsewhere in the West, EU and G7 leaders came out to pour scorn on the "deeply concerning" move.
In the United States, Democrat senator Jeanne Shaheen and Republican senator Lindsey Graham published a statement on Wednesday warning Zelensky not to go through with the rules.
LATEST FROM UKRAINE:
- British volunteer who lost arm and leg in Russian drone attack 'shouldn't have made it'
- Donald Trump urges Zelensky to make Putin 'feel the pain' by bombing MOSCOW and St Petersburg
- Vladimir Putin forced to shut FOUR Moscow airports after Ukraine launches drone blitz on Russia
- Nato scrambles warplanes after Vladimir Putin unleashes heaviest strikes of the war on Ukraine
REUTERS
|Tens of thousands of Ukrainians took to the streets in protest against Zelensky's crackdown
REUTERS
|The demonstrations were the largest of their kind since Russia's 2022 invasion
The pair praised the "enormous strides" Ukraine had made on anti-corruption since 2014 in the face of Russian aggression.
But they added: "We fear [the new law] undermines much of that progress".
Under the law, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (Nabu) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (Sapo) would be brought under the control of the general prosecutor - whom Zelensky appoints.
The head of Nabu had warned Zelensky not to approve the move, which he labelled an attempt to "destroy" Ukraine's anti-corruption rules.
PA | Zelensky said he had U-turned after taking advice from Sir Keir Starmer
Later, the two agencies welcomed Zelensky's pared-back version of the bill and said it restored "all procedural powers and guarantees of the independence of Nabu and Sapo".
They said in a statement: "Nabu and Sapo participated in the preparation of the text and urge [Parliament] to adopt the President's initiative as a basis and in full as soon as possible.
"This will help prevent threats to criminal proceedings investigated by Nabu and Sapo."