President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with representatives of national minorities and indigenous peoples of Ukraine.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Azerbaijani, Arab, Belarusian, Bulgarian, Armenian, Gagauz, Greek, Georgian, Jewish, Moldovan, German, Polish, Roma, Romanian, Turkish, and Hungarian communities, as well as of Ukraine’s three indigenous peoples: the Crimean Karaites, Krymchaks, and Crimean Tatars.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated those present on the Day of Interethnic Harmony and Cultural Diversity, which Ukraine marked for the first time just recently.
He emphasized the important role that national minorities play in various spheres and thanked them for their contribution to Ukraine’s defense.
“These are representatives of many nations that make up our united Ukraine. And they are all fighting for our shared country. I am especially grateful for that. It is important not only to honor them with awards, but to remind everyone: we are a multinational country, and we all live together. We live and fight so that we may live in peace,” the President said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that during a previous meeting on December 27, they had discussed the preparation of an action plan to protect the rights of national minorities in Ukraine. He added that the Cabinet of Ministers has already approved that plan.
According to the President, in addition to addressing language, education, and infrastructure issues, it is also important to support Ukrainians living abroad and help them return home. That is why the Ministry of National Unity was established.
“We’ve already begun building these connections. There are concrete steps. There are appropriate hubs that we will open in all parts of Europe at the very least. We have already started doing this. We already have appropriate hubs where we could bring together all our communities abroad,” said the President.
“A large number of people have gone abroad, and of course, we need to work with them – both in terms of providing support and in terms of ensuring they don’t lose their connection to Ukraine,” added Oleksandr Khara, a representative of Greek community organizations in Ukraine.
The core focus of the meeting was discussing unresolved issues. These included the implementation of the law on indigenous peoples, stronger coordination between the government and national minorities, and matters related to language and education.
Leader of the Crimean Tatar people Mustafa Dzhemilev stressed the importance of including residents of the occupied territories – who were forcibly issued Russian passports – in prisoner exchange lists.
Olena Arabadji, a representative of the Union of Crimean Karaites of Ukraine, spoke about how Ukrainians in the Russian-occupied part of the Zaporizhzhia region responded to the President’s call and, despite bans, celebrated Vyshyvanka Day.
“On May 15, they sent us photos in vyshyvankas. You remember how Ukraine bloomed on Vyshyvanka Day. And for the people under occupation, it was a civic stance – an expression of identity and a declaration that they are free,” she said.
Participants also raised the issue of granting Ukrainian citizenship to foreigners who have been waiting for it for a long time.
Deputy Prime Minister – Minister for National Unity Oleksiy Chernyshov stated that a draft law on multiple citizenship has passed its first reading and is now being prepared for a second. He noted that its adoption would comprehensively address the issue.
“Ukrainian identity today is not about DNA or blood tests. Ukrainians today are freedom-loving, independent people who have chosen the European path – people who are defending freedom with weapons in their hands,” he emphasized.
The meeting was also attended by Deputy Heads of the Office of the President Olena Kovalska, Ihor Zhovkva, and Viktor Mykyta, as well as Head of the State Service of Ukraine on Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience Viktor Yelenskyi.
