On March 26, the 60th anniversary meeting of the National Commission for Matters Concerning Ukrainians Worldwide was held under the chairmanship of Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Mariana Betsa.
Following the consideration of applications submitted by foreigners and stateless persons, the Commission decided to grant the status of Ukrainians living abroad to 22 applicants, as well as to renew the relevant certificates for 36 persons from Germany, Norway, Canada, Israel, the United States, Turkmenistan, Poland, Georgia, and Brazil. This represents another important step toward strengthening the global Ukrainian community and expanding the network of support for Ukraine worldwide.
“An increasing number of people around the world are recognizing their connection to the Ukrainian nation and seeking to maintain ties with Ukraine. Especially today, in the context of the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation, the importance of Ukrainians living abroad is growing more than ever. They are our strategic partners, the global voice of Ukraine, and an important pillar in strengthening international support. A strong global Ukrainian community is an additional strength for Ukraine”, - Mariana Betsa emphasized.
The Chair of the National Commission also informed participants about the results of the work carried out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to improve the legal and regulatory framework in the field of cooperation with Ukrainians living abroad and the functioning of the Commission. This included the renewal of its composition, the expansion of institutional representation, and the strengthening of its administrative capacity. The introduced amendments made it possible to enhance mechanisms of interagency cooperation during the consideration of applications, which will contribute to more efficient and timely processing of submissions by the Secretariat of the National Commission.
Since the beginning of the Commission’s activities in 2006, the status of Ukrainians living abroad has been granted to 12,189 persons — nationals of nearly 90 countries, as well as stateless persons. These figures reflect sustained interest in preserving Ukrainian identity and strengthening ties with Ukraine among Ukrainians across the world.
The National Commission has continued its activities since the beginning of the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation, thereby confirming the continuity of state policy aimed at supporting Ukrainians worldwide even in the most challenging times. Since February 2022, 433 applicants have been granted the status of Ukrainians living abroad.
During this period, the geographic reach of countries whose nationals have acquired the status of Ukrainians living abroad has also significantly expanded — from states with large Ukrainian communities to more distant regions of the world, including the Dominican Republic, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, Chile, and Japan. This further demonstrates the growing global presence of Ukrainians and the strengthening of their role in supporting Ukraine.
Note: In accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On Worldwide Ukrainians,” a person who has acquired the legal status of a Ukrainian living abroad is entitled to: