THE BRIEFING 

Here’s what’s happening in geopolitics today.

Russia kicked off its annual “July Storm” naval drills with 150+ vessels, over 120 aircraft, unmanned systems and missile batteries across four fleet commands. While Trump secured a major trade agreement with Japan involving tariff reductions and U.S. investment. In Asia, India will resume issuing Chinese tourist visas from July 24. Ukrainians protested Zelenskyy’s new anti‑corruption law. And lastly, Malaysia announced cash handouts and fuel subsidies due to rising living costs.

We take a deep dive into Zelenskys new anti-corruption law and what it could mean for Ukraine.

THE LAST 24 HOURS IN GEOPOLITICS 

1. Russia launches ‘July Storm’ Naval Drills across 4 strategic fleet commands
Russia kicked off its annual “July Storm” naval exercises today, deploying over 150 vessels, 120+ aircraft, more than 15,000 personnel, and ten coastal missile systems across the Pacific and Arctic oceans, as well as the Baltic and Caspian seas. The extensive drills aim to test fleet readiness for unconventional warfare, including anti-submarine operations, maritime defence of economic zones, drone repulsion, and long-range weapons deployment. Led by Admiral Alexander Moiseev, the exercise also emphasises emerging technologies like unmanned systems, even as Ukraine-related losses continue to challenge Russia’s naval capabilities.
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2. Trump announces ‘massive’ trade deal with Japan
Trump has secured a major deal with Japan, reducing auto tariffs from 27.5% to 15% and applying a 15% tariff on other Japanese imports in exchange for a $550 billion investment plan and expanded market access for U.S. goods. With the August 1 tariff deadline approaching, the deal marks one of Trump’s most significant trade breakthroughs, even as specifics remain limited and Japan reviews the fine print.
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3. India to resume issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens from July 24th
India’s embassy in Beijing confirmed on Wednesday that Chinese citizens can once again apply for tourist visas starting July 24, marking the first such move in five years since the suspension in 2020 amid the Galwan border clash and the pandemic. This shift comes alongside other thawing measures like plans to reopen direct flights and resume the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, all part of a deliberate effort to repair bilateral relations. While largely framed as people-to-people diplomacy, the timing and broader diplomatic engagement signal a broader recalibration in ties with China.
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4. Thousands gather to protest as Zelenskyy signs new anti-corruption law
A controversial bill signed on July 22 by President Zelensky curbs the independence of Ukraine’s key anti-corruption bodies, NABU and SAPO, placing them under the authority of the presidentially appointed prosecutor general. The move sparked thousands of Ukrainians to protest in Kyiv and cities like Lviv, arguing it undermines transparency, democratic reform, and Ukraine’s path toward European integration. Zelensky has defended the law as necessary to purge alleged Russian influence, pledging a fresh two-week anti-corruption action plan in response to public outcry and EU concern.
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5. Malaysia PM announces cash aid, fuel cut to address rising living costs
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced a one‑off 100 ringgit cash handout for all adult citizens, to be distributed starting August 31, as part of efforts to ease public pressure over rising living costs. The government will also reduce the RON95 petrol price from 2.05 to 1.99 ringgit per litre for locals, while foreign nationals will pay market rates. These measures, including a total allocation of 15 billion ringgit for cash aid this year, come ahead of planned protests and aim to provide short‑term relief amid ongoing subsidy reforms and inflationary pressures.
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DAILY DEEP DIVE

PROTESTS ERUPT ACROSS UKRAINE AFTER NEW ANTI-CORRUPTION LAW PASSES

Do you ever watch a sport and wonder how a team or player can fumble the lead so easily sometimes? Well, the same can be said for Zelensky right now. And specifically, Zelensky himself. By most accounts, this was rushed by Zelensky and his entourage personally, rather than being a broad parliamentary agreement.

One of the many stipulations for Ukraine to join the EU is cleaning up its image of corruption, a reputation the country has long struggled with. One key reform was the creation of independent anti-corruption organisations: the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). NABU investigates high-level corruption involving senior officials, judges, and state-owned enterprises. SAPO supervises NABU’s investigations and prosecutes cases in the High Anti-Corruption Court. Both were established in 2015 to operate independently from political influence as part of post-Euromaidan reforms. Their independence remains a core requirement for Ukraine’s EU integration and continued international support.

That brings us to the current crisis. Ukraine's parliament has passed draft law 12414, which effectively removes the independence of NABU and SAPO and places them under the oversight of the Prosecutor General (who is appointed by Zelensky). This grants the president sweeping influence over investigations. Although the law was introduced by Zelenskyy's party, the oversight amendments were quietly inserted at the last minute. Some local sources suggest that Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada was pressured into compliance, with a clear message that “the boss is watching who is voting for what.” Zelenskyy's justification is that the move is a purge to eliminate suspected Russian influence.

There’s no real way to spin this positively for Zelensky. Open any social media platform, especially X, and even die-hard supporters are now questioning his motives. To make matters worse, Ukraine's Security Service detained and raided NABU officials, some accused of collusion with Russian intelligence, though many believe the charges are politically motivated.
From the public’s perspective, it looks like the government is dismantling one of the last serious steps toward EU membership, which remains a major voting issue for many Ukrainians. And to try to sneak the changes in at the last minute only adds to the backlash.

Now, thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in all major Ukrainian cities. This is especially significant, as it marks the first wartime protest against the government, and not a small one at that. In response, President Zelensky posted a detailed message on X, describing the move as necessary due to the need to defeat “Russian occupiers.” Zelenskyy’s tweet appears to be a strategic attempt to deflect criticism and reframe the controversial law as a national security measure. By emphasising unity against Russia and the need for an effective law enforcement system, he presents the move as a wartime necessity rather than a rollback of democratic safeguards. He avoids directly addressing the loss of independence for NABU and SAPO, instead focusing on broader themes of justice, teamwork, and state resilience. The message seems designed to reassure the public and international partners while downplaying growing concerns about centralised power and weakened anti-corruption oversight.

Overall, if it is true that Ukraine believes there is Russian interference within the independent institutions, this was the worst possible way to handle the situation. What could have been planned differently looks like nothing more than a hostile takeover. 

Sources:
Christopher Miller [@ChristopherJM]. (2025, July 22). Zelensky signs law removing independence of NABU and SAPO hours after parliament passed it. This is a major setback for Ukraine’s anti-corruption reforms and EU bid [Tweet]. X. https://x.com/ChristopherJM/status/1947761862927650832

Kyiv Independent. (2025, July 22). Editorial: A dark hour for Ukrainian democracy. https://kyivindependent.com/editorial-dark-hour-for-ukrainian-democracy/

Melkozerova, V., & Stasiuk, Y. (2025, July 22). Ukrainian lawmakers vote to scuttle independence of anti-corruption agencies. Politico. https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-parliament-vote-bill-independence-anti-corruption-agency-eu-concerned/

TWEET OF THE DAY

It really seems to be working out for the two groups.

TODAY IN HISTORY

(July 23, 1903): Ford Motor Company sold its first automobile, a Ford Model A; five years later it introduced the hugely influential Model T. The Model T revolutionised personal transportation by making cars affordable to the average American through mass production techniques. Its success transformed the automobile from a luxury item into a practical necessity and reshaped 20th-century industry and society.