Ukraine's nod to Poland. Dual citizenship will be permitted.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the first countries where procedures for obtaining multiple citizenship may be launched. Poland is among the countries whose citizenship will be permitted alongside Ukrainian citizenship.

Zelensky mentioned that Ukraine recently adopted a law on multiple citizenship aimed at preserving Ukrainians' ties to their homeland.

We will gradually define the circle of countries with which appropriate procedures will be initiated. I was thinking of starting with the countries where the largest number of Ukrainians currently reside. These include primarily countries such as Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, and the Baltic states," the president listed.

The head of state stated that the final list would be ready after consultations with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada.

"Of course, we should also consider Canada and other countries where many Ukrainians live and where Ukraine is strongly supported. This is also an important aspect – which countries have traditionally been with us, traditionally supported us, and are friendly towards Ukrainians, very friendly and important to Ukraine," Zelensky said.

The idea of a law on multiple citizenship was discussed even before the full-scale war and was updated after 2022. Oleksiy Honcharenko of the European Solidarity faction reported on June 18 that the Verkhovna Rada (parliament) of Ukraine adopted a law on multiple citizenship, which simplifies the procedure for obtaining Ukrainian citizenship.

On July 15, Zelensky signed a law regulating the issue of multiple citizenship in Ukraine.

The law provides for the legalization of Ukrainian citizens' possession of citizenship of another country and the possibility of obtaining a passport of another country without having to renounce Ukrainian citizenship.

Under the law, citizens of other countries of Ukrainian descent can become Ukrainian citizens through a simplified procedure. The law also provides for a shortened procedure for obtaining citizenship if a foreigner is serving in the military in Ukraine.

The document prohibits multiple citizenship for civil servants and judges. Under the new regulations, a person who holds a passport from another country but is a Ukrainian citizen is recognized solely as a Ukrainian citizen within the territory of Ukraine.

From Kyiv Iryna Hirnyk (PAP)

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