Verkhovna Rada passes presidential bill on special status for Polish citizens

On July 11, 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".

"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 at the time.

Verkhovna Rada passed the bill in the first reading on Tuesday (July 19). According to internet news service Ukrainska Pravda, which quoted Ukrainian MP Jaroslav Zeleznak, the new legislation was backed by 321 deputies.

If ratified by president Zelenskiy, the new law would grant Polish citizens and their family members the possibility of legal stay on the territory of Ukraine for 18 months. Poles would 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.

President Zelenskiy called upon Ukrainian deputies on social media last week 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 on July 11 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.