Ukrainians in Moldova will be able to obtain Ukrainian citizenship under a simplified procedure

Ukrainians in Moldova will be able to obtain Ukrainian citizenship under a simplified procedure, the government's corresponding decision was announced by Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on Friday, UNN reports.

Ukrainians in the Republic of Moldova will have the opportunity to acquire Ukrainian citizenship under a simplified procedure. The government has included the Republic of Moldova in the list of states whose citizens are covered by this mechanism.

The fact that the Cabinet of Ministers, on the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expanded the opportunities for acquiring Ukrainian citizenship under a simplified procedure by adding the Republic of Moldova to the relevant list was also reported by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha.

The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs characterized this as a "strategic step of Ukraine towards Moldova" and noted that the corresponding decision became another stage in the implementation of the new version of the Law of Ukraine "On Citizenship of Ukraine". According to him, earlier the new procedure for acquiring Ukrainian citizenship without renouncing the existing one became available for ethnic Ukrainians from EU countries, the United Kingdom, Canada, the USA, Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland.

"Now this legal mechanism is also open to our neighbors – citizens of the Republic of Moldova. For us, including Moldova in this list is not just a formal expansion of geography. It is a logical step in the development of relations with a country with which we share a common border and a common path to the European Union. A country that, from the first days of the full-scale invasion, has been providing assistance to our citizens and supporting Ukraine," the minister noted.

Sybiha noted that a large and active Ukrainian community lives in Moldova. In this context, the minister emphasized that Ukraine is interested in ethnic Ukrainians abroad having as many opportunities as possible to maintain ties with the Motherland.

"Ukraine's decision is a logical, well-considered, and timely response to the aggressor state's attempts to destabilize friendly Moldova through manipulations with the issue of citizenship for residents of the Transnistrian region. Ukraine demonstrates leadership, agency, and responsibility. Unlike russia, which seeks destabilization and the expansion of war, the strategic goal of Ukraine has always been, is, and will be peace, security, and stability of friendly Moldova," he emphasized.

The next task is to make the procedure as convenient as possible

Today, she indicated, to acquire citizenship, it is necessary to pass exams in the Ukrainian language, the Constitution, and the history of Ukraine, but this can only be done in Ukraine. "We are working on the possibility of taking exams remotely. We also need to regulate the final stage of document processing through foreign diplomatic institutions so that people can obtain a Ukrainian passport without unnecessary obstacles," Svyrydenko added.