Ethnic Ukrainians living in the Republic of Moldova will be able to obtain Ukrainian citizenship through a simplified procedure, without being required to renounce their current citizenship, after Ukraine expanded the list of countries covered by this mechanism.
The decision was approved by the Government of Ukraine as part of an updated implementation of its citizenship law.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the measure marks a new stage in applying the revised Law on Citizenship of Ukraine, extending a previously limited mechanism to additional countries, including Moldova.
According to him, the inclusion of the Republic of Moldova is based on close bilateral relations, a shared border, the European integration path of both states, and the presence of a significant ethnic Ukrainian community in Moldova.
Sybiha also stated that the decision is part of a broader regional context, including what Kyiv views as attempts by Russia to influence the region, particularly through citizenship policies targeting residents of Transnistria. He described Ukraine’s approach as one aimed at stability and responsible regional engagement.
The amended citizenship law, adopted last year by the Verkhovna Rada, allows Ukrainian citizens to hold multiple citizenships simultaneously.