Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced that, at the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has expanded the opportunities for acquiring Ukrainian citizenship through a simplified procedure by adding the Republic of Moldova to the relevant list

The Foreign Minister described this as “a strategic step by Ukraine regarding Moldova” and noted that the decision marked another stage in the implementation of the new version of the Law of Ukraine “On Citizenship of Ukraine.” According to him, the new procedure for acquiring Ukrainian citizenship without renouncing existing citizenship had previously become available to ethnic Ukrainians from EU countries, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland.

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

Andrii Sybiha noted that there is a large and active Ukrainian community living in Moldova. In this context, the minister emphasized that Ukraine is interested in ensuring that ethnic Ukrainians abroad have as many opportunities as possible to maintain ties with their homeland.

“Ukraine’s decision is a logical, well-considered, and timely response to the aggressor state’s attempts to destabilize friendly Moldova by manipulating the issue of citizenship for residents of the Transnistrian region. Ukraine is demonstrating leadership, autonomy, and responsibility. Unlike Russia, which seeks to destabilize the region and escalate the war, Ukraine’s strategic goal has always been, is, and will remain peace, security, and stability in friendly Moldova,” he emphasized.

The Foreign Minister expressed his gratitude to Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and members of the Government for adopting this timely and strategically important decision.