President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy submitted a draft law in the parliament regarding granting Polish citizens a special status in Ukraine, Ukrainian president's office informed on Monday (July 11). President Zelenskiy also granted Polish city of Przemyśl the honarary title of the "Rescuer City".
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy submitted to the Verkhovna Rada a draft law "On establishing legal and social guarantees for citizens of the Republic of Poland in the territory of Ukraine" - Ukrainian president's office informed on Monday.
"As a sign of gratitude to the Polish people for their solidarity and support of Ukraine in the face of full-scale armed aggression by Russia and taking into account the principle of reciprocity, the draft law provides for the establishment of rights and guarantees for Polish citizens residing in Ukraine similar to those established in the Law of the Republic of Poland 'On assistance to the citizens of Ukraine due to the armed conflict on the territory of this country' adopted on March 12, 2022," president Zelenskiy's office said.
"The draft law developed at the initiative of the Head of State envisages, in particular, granting Polish citizens and their family members the possibility of legal stay on the territory of Ukraine for 18 months from the date of adoption of the law. Poles will also receive the right to employment, economic activity, study in educational institutions, medical care on the territory of Ukraine and separate social benefits in accordance with Ukrainian legislation," we read in the statement.
Przemyśl named "Rescuer City"
Volodymyr Zelenskiy also signed decree on Monday conferring the honorary title of the Rescuer City upon the Polish city of Przemyśl.
"The award honors the unprecedented solidarity of the local authorities, residents and volunteers of Przemyśl with the Ukrainian people, comprehensive large-scale assistance to citizens of Ukraine who were forced to leave their homeland as a result of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation, as well as significant support for Ukraine in the defense of its independence and sovereignty," president's office said.
"Przemyśl became the second city, after Polish Rzeszów, to receive this honorary title," we read.
"Highest level of trust"
President Zelenskiy called upon Ukrainian deputies on social media to treat the submitted draft with utmost diligence.
"In relations with Poland we have reached the highest level of trust and cooperation, not only when it comes to the recent decades, but also to many generations of our nations. And we must keep on strengthening our relations across all spheres," Ukrainian president said.
Chief of Polish president's International Policy Bureau Jakub Kumoch welcomed the news by saying that "granting Poles in Ukraine the same rights as Ukrainians have in Poland is a huge thing, it's a gesture showing how close Ukraine and Poland have become".
Spokesperson for the Polish government Piotr Müller said the draft legislation, if passed, would make economic and social cooperation between the countries much easier in the future. "This is especially important in the context of Ukraine's reconstruction plans as well as Poland's role in that regard," Müller added.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP, president.gov.ua