This must be implemented, excluding the citizenship of Russia and other “unfriendly countries
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba came out in support of allowing multiple citizenship, excluding the citizenship of Russia and other “unfriendly countries”, Ukrinform reported.
“It is imperative to preserve their connection to the homeland. This is about the future of Ukraine and Ukrainians. Therefore, one element of state policy aimed at preserving and developing the worldwide Ukrainian community must be multiple citizenship,” Kuleba said in a speech to the World Congress of Ukrainians.
Kuleba mentioned that he is convinced of the need to introduce multiple citizenship, saying “we need to be guided not by the fear of handing out foreign passports in Ukraine, but by the strength of the Ukrainian passport in Ukraine and in the world.”
In his view, the state must open up the possibility for millions of Ukrainians abroad to retain their Ukrainian passport or obtain one. He also said that with Ukraine’s entry into the European Union, Ukraine’s passports will have the same status as the passports of neighbouring European countries.
Kuleba also said the policy must be implemented “wisely”.
“Gradually, starting with friendly allied countries. And of course, any dual citizenship with an aggressor state or unfriendly countries must be prohibited,” the minister added.
According to Eurostat, before the start of the full-scale war, the EU hosted around 500,000 Ukrainian citizens. Since 24 February 2022, there are over 5 million 977 thousand Ukrainians in Europe, as of June 2023, Ukrinform reported.
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