Latest news with #Chernyshov
Euronews
2 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Ukraine's parliament passes dual citizenship bill to motivate returns
In an attempt to motivate people to come back home, Ukraine is allowing multiple citizenship for the first time ever in the country's history, the parliament in Kyiv, Verhovna Rada, decided in a bill passed on Wednesday. The president must now sign the law before it enters into force, which is expected to be a formality, given that Volodymyr Zelenskyy himself submitted the bill last summer. Oleksiy Chernyshov, Ukraine's vice prime minister and minister for national unity, says it is a crucial step to motivate the Ukrainians to come back home — not only those who left after Russia's all-out war in 2022, but also those who had to leave Ukraine when Russia first invaded in 2014. The number of Ukrainians currently abroad is very close to the number of those living in Ukraine: approximately 32 million Ukrainians reside in their home country, while up to 25 million Ukrainians are abroad. With this move, Kyiv wants to "unite Ukrainians throughout the globe," Chernyshov told Euronews. 'There are Ukrainians who stepped into the citizenship of other countries and we want to keep their Ukrainian identity, to give this opportunity to them. Within the current setup, there was only one choice of Ukrainian passport so now our citizens have the solution,' he explained. The Ukrainian government now needs to draft a list of countries whose citizens will be eligible for dual Ukrainian citizenship. Deputy Foreign Minister Serhii Kyslytsia said the law does not apply to Russian citizens or citizens of countries that do not recognise Ukraine's territorial integrity. Chernyshov told Euronews that Kyiv expects a third of those who left Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in early 2022 to come back once the "the peace solution is reached," while the rest are likely to "monitor the situation and see whether it makes sense to come back." 'The answer lies in the framework of economic development and further reforms of our country that would definitely pave the way for future development and creation of new jobs, new opportunities, new business developments. And we are very, very dedicated to it," Chernyshov explained. 'I think they bring a lot of value to countries of the European Union right now. I heard it from many ministers of European Union countries, they value a lot the Ukrainian presence. That is why we will also have to compete among the labour markets and to provide better conditions:" What makes Ukraine optimistic about the return of its people is the past experience when the Ukrainians rushed to go back after Russian troops were pushed out of the Kyiv region and Kherson city, but also the fact that they were forced to leave their homes, rather than being willing to do so. 'Ukrainians came to Europe because of the full-scale aggression. They were not planning to do that. They feel, of course, in a way, homesick, and it's well understood," Chernyshov said. The bill also establishes new grounds for losing citizenship, including receiving a Russian passport or serving in the Russian military. Multiple citizenship will be recognised for foreigners from the listed countries who apply for Ukrainian citizenship, or if Ukrainian citizens apply for citizenship in these countries. It will also be recognised for Ukrainian spouses of foreign citizens and other specific cases. Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered to help mediate an end to the conflict between Israel and Iran, even as Moscow steps up its war against Ukraine. Speaking to international news agency editors in St Petersburg on Wednesday, Putin suggested that Moscow could help negotiate a settlement allowing Tehran to pursue a peaceful nuclear programme while assuaging Israeli security concerns. Putin said it was a "delicate issue" but believed that "a solution could be found". The Russian leader said he had shared Moscow's proposal with Iran, Israel and the US. "We are not imposing anything on anyone; we are simply talking about how we see a possible way out of the situation. But the decision, of course, is up to the political leadership of all these countries, primarily Iran and Israel," he said. Israel hit a critical Iranian nuclear site and Iranian missiles struck an Israeli hospital on Thursday, the seventh day of a conflict that started with a surprise wave of Israeli airstrikes targeting military sites, senior officers and nuclear scientists in Iran. The Israeli air campaign against its rival has killed several Iranian military commanders and hundreds of civilians, while Iran's strikes in response have killed at least two dozen civilians in Israel. Asked how Russia would react if Israel were to kill Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Putin refused to answer, saying he did not "want to discuss such a possibility". Khamenei has rejected US calls for surrender in the face of Israeli strikes and warned that any military involvement by Washington would cause "irreparable damage". US President Donald Trump said earlier this week that the US knew where Khamenei was "hiding" but that "we are not going to take him out ... at least not for now". Russia has maintained a balancing act in the Middle East for decades, staying on good terms with Israel even as it developed strong economic and military ties with Iran, a policy that could allow Moscow to play power broker in the region. Yet the Kremlin signed a strategic partnership agreement with Tehran in January, while its relationship with Israel has been tested by the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. After the Israel-Iran conflict broke out last Friday, Russia has urged Israel to show restraint in its campaign against Iran and condemned its attacks against its rival as "violations of the UN charter and international law" — the same contraventions the international community has repeatedly said Moscow has been committing in Ukraine. Asked on Wednesday at the St Petersburg meeting about Russia denouncing Israel's strikes on Iran while Ukrainian civilians are being killed in attacks by Moscow, Putin responded that Russia was targeting the country's arms factories. However, widespread damage to residential buildings and other civilian targets in Ukraine has been documented during the conflict, including this week. On Wednesday, Ukrainian emergency workers pulled more bodies from the rubble of a nine-story Kyiv apartment building demolished by a Russian attack earlier this week, raising the death toll from the strike on the capital to 28. Russia's intensified attacks against Ukraine in recent weeks have been condemned by several international organisations — including the OSCE and the Council of Europe — as violations of international humanitarian law. Two rounds of direct peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv failed to make progress on ending Russia's war, now in its fourth year.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukrainian official explains EU's plans for Ukrainians after temporary protection ends in 2027
After 4 March 2027, when temporary protection for Ukrainians in the EU expires, support will be provided for an unhindered return to Ukraine, while those employed or studying in the EU will be eligible to change their residence status. Source: Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Chernyshov in a conversation with journalists in Luxembourg on 13 June, as reported by an European Pravda correspondent Details: Temporary protection in the European Union for Ukrainians will end in March 2027, after which Ukrainians will be helped to return to their homeland or remain in the EU with a different legal status, the Ukrainian minister said. "We are informed about prolongation of the temporary protection status for Ukrainian refugees for another year until March 2027. It is very important to provide to those people clarity for their planning of life and for their security," Chernyshov said. He said that around 5 million Ukrainians currently have temporary protection status in the EU, having left Ukraine after the start of the full-scale invasion. Sixty per cent are in Germany, Poland or Czechia, with Germany hosting the largest number – over 1.2 million. "We will be prepared to voluntarily return some of Ukrainians or most of Ukrainians once the war is over and there is stable peace. We are preparing special centres in the capitals of the European Union countries which are called unity hubs that will both provide professional services for those Ukrainians who are considering voluntary return back home after the peace is reached," Chernyshov said. He noted that the unity hubs will also help those "who will decide to integrate into the European Union countries". "They should know language. They should have a job. They should be professionally developed. They should be an asset. We will be working on that," explained Chernyshov. Background: European Pravda earlier reported that the European Commission has proposed draft recommendations to the EU Council that will allow member states to prepare for the coordinated termination of temporary protection for Ukrainians. They will be offered either a transition to a new legal status in their country of residence or assistance in returning home. The list of proposed recommendations can be found here. Vsevolod Chentsov, Ukraine's Ambassador to the EU, also told European Pravda that temporary protection for Ukrainians in the EU will be extended for another year. As of 31 March 2025, just over 4.26 million people who are not EU citizens and fled Ukraine due to Russia's full-scale invasion were granted temporary protection in the European Union. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
FIFA tells Mohd Sporting to clear former coach's dues
Panaji: FIFA's Players' Status Chamber has instructed Mohammedan Sporting Club to clear the dues of their former coach within the next 45 days or risk transfer bans for multiple windows, besides additional disciplinary sanctions. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In its order, FIFA's chief legal and compliance officer Emilio Garcia Silvero said pursuant to Article 8 of Annexe 2 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, if full payment (including all applicable interest) is not made within 45 days of notification of the decision, the respondent (club) 'shall be banned from registering any new players, either nationally or internationally, up until the due amount is paid. ' The maximum duration of the ban will be of up to three entire and consecutive registration periods. Should the dues remain unpaid, 'the matter will be placed before the FIFA Disciplinary Committee for additional sanctions.' Mohammedan Sporting have been asked to clear the outstanding remuneration pending since Dec 11 last year and pay compensation for breach of contract. Chernyshov had resigned on Jan 29 citing unpaid wages. 'A professional, I cannot work for three months without receiving a salary,' the coach had written on his social media accounts. 'I made this decision with tears in my eyes. But all the blame for this lies with the club's management.' The FIFA order was communicated to all parties on May 30, which now leaves Mohammedan Sporting with little over a month to clear the dues. 'I hope they pay me the money because the communication is from FIFA, not from any other office,' Chernyshov told TOI over a phone call from his home in Moscow on Wednesday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'If they don't pay, the club will have to face the consequences as new players cannot be registered.' Under Chernyshov, a former USSR and Russia defender, Mohammedan Sporting had qualified for ISL by winning the 2023-24 I-League. 'I like Indian football very much and enjoyed my time there. We did a great job with Mohammedan. I know my quality, and if there's a club which comes up with a good offer, I will come to India immediately. The ISL was a good experience; very good football, good organisation,' said Chernyshov, who spent three years at the historic club, taking them from the I-League to the (ISL). On debut in the top-tier league, the team started on a promising note but internal discords meant they ended up at the bottom. 'It was very difficult situation,' said Chernyshov. 'It all started with good salaries, good accommodation, but players were not happy that salaries were not paid and they didn't turn up for training. I had good players. We were like a family, stayed strong, but (when salaries were delayed for months) it became too much. The players told me they were sorry, that they cannot train anymore.'
Euronews
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Kyiv not to force Ukrainian refugees to return — but hopes they will
With Russia's all-out war against Ukraine dragging on for the fourth year now, Kyiv is rethinking its strategy on how to keep close ties with the people who were forced to leave Ukraine and relocate abroad and how to motivate them to come back. Some 4.8 million Ukrainians have been granted temporary protection in Europe since Russia went on its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. What was initially planned as a three-year protection mechanism has just been extended for a total of five years, until March 2027. The longer people stay abroad, the harder it is to bring them back home, says Oleksiy Chernyshov, Ukraine's vice-prime minister who is now leading a newly-created ministry for national unity. Chernyshov is tasked with maintaining close ties with Ukrainians abroad and motivating them to return home, as they are becoming increasingly settled abroad. "The longer the war continues — the more integrated Ukrainians become in other countries," he told Euronews. 'That is why even during the war we want to keep ties with Ukrainians. We want to address and we want explain that everyone is equally important to Ukraine. We want your contribution, either it's material or even emotional," Chernyshov explained. "You should be integrated into Ukrainian life. You should think of Ukraine. Regardless of the fact that when you are considering your return, or if you are not considering it at all. It's important you're keeping your Ukrainian identity and Ukrainian agenda," he added, addressing his compatriots. Kyiv now hopes to rebuild its strategy with the so-called "Unity Hubs" that have been opened abroad. These multifunctional spaces will provide a variety of services to displaced or temporarily displaced Ukrainians, including legal, psychological, educational, cultural and support services to facilitate their integration into the European Union. However, they will also encourage them to voluntarily return to Ukraine once the peaceful conditions permit this to happen. The European Commission supported the initiative as it announced the extension of the temporary protection scheme. Chernyshov said it gives "more than 20 months of clarity for Ukrainians here in the European Union to plan their life." At the same time, Kyiv hopes the "Unity Hubs" initiative will also help the people plan for their future return to Ukraine. That, Chernyshov admitted, would first and foremost depend on the war. The Ukrainians didn't move looking for a better life, he reiterated: "They were escaping from the war and we should always remember that." Meanwhile, Ukrainians in Europe have been "a very strong asset to a labour market," Ukraine's vice-prime minister said. "They're professional, they're hardworking, they're intelligent, they're educated and obviously the labour markets will compete with each other," Chernyshov explained. There is no official data on how many Ukrainian refugees are working in Europe, and the situation varies from country to country. According to the joint report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the European Migration Network from May 2024, the beneficiaries of temporary protection (BoTP) integrated into the labour market more quickly than other refugee groups. At the beginning of 2023, the share of working-age BoTP in employment was already over 40% in a number of EU countries, including Estonia, Lithuania, Denmark and the Netherlands. Even higher employment levels were reported in Poland, exceeding 60%. While the number was lower than average in Germany (18%) and Switzerland (14%). After the first massive waves of relocation in 2022, most EU countries reported lower numbers of registrations. However, the number of BoTP employment continued to grow, reflecting an increased transition into employment. Having gained professional experience abroad, Kyiv hopes the Ukrainians will then implement it at home. Chernyshov said that economic development and the implementation of reforms will also pave the way for people to return home after the war is over. 'Once Ukraine rebuilds and develops its economy. European countries will come for the recovery. Who will they bring with them? Obviously, first of all, they will consider Ukrainians who are professionally integrated into Europe, and they will most probably offer them jobs in Ukraine," he pointed out. However, although economic growth and further development are undoubtedly important, stable peace remains the primary precondition for the return of the people, as well as for Ukraine's economic growth and prosperity. Brussels announced that the European Commission will appoint a special envoy for Ukrainians in the EU. This should help provide better information to Ukrainians about transitioning to a different legal status from temporary protection, and also pave the way for a gradual return and reintegration in Ukraine. Chernyshov says many Ukrainians want to return home, and they have already demonstrated this. After the Ukrainian army pushed Russian troops out of the Kyiv region, many rushed home as soon as they could. 'In March 2022 a lot of people returned to Kyiv and other cities, and it actually gives a great example," Chernyshov said, adding that many regularly go to Ukraine to visit their families and friends while temporarily being based abroad. In an unprecedented step, Kyiv established the Ministry of National Unity, trying to motivate them to come back more and one day come back to stay, and is now working on allowing dual and multiple citizenship. But what Kyiv cannot and will not do is force people to return, Chernyshov said. 'We cannot force anybody to come back. This is impossible'. 'The only motivation to go back to Ukraine is a successful Ukraine and your love for your homeland. These are the only two factors that make Ukrainians go back and consider this decision seriously. No forceful actions can be provided or will be provided. This is only peaceful motivation," he explained. Ukraine can do as much as it can to motivate the people with the administrative and economic incentives, but as long as Ukrainian cities are still being bombed and attacked, it is harder to convince people to come back. In this case, the decision to return home to Ukraine for many will depend not on Brussels or Kyiv, but on Moscow choosing whether to continue its war against Ukraine. US President Donald Trump has ordered an investigation into his predecessor Joe Biden's actions in office, accusing the former leader's aides of hiding his 'cognitive decline' from the public. In an executive order issued on Wednesday, Trump said the probe would assess whether 'certain individuals conspired to deceive the public about Biden's mental state and unconstitutionally exercise the authorities and responsibilities of the president'. The memo suggested, without providing evidence, that the unnamed officials may have taken advantage of Biden through the use of an autopen, the process by which presidents can give their approval to a document without physically signing it. In 2005, the US Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel said the autopen system — which Trump has himself used for routine correspondence — was a legitimate way for a president to validate official documents. The Trump administration's probe, which will be led by US Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House Counsel David Warrington, comes as an attempt to undermine the legitimacy of some of Biden's executive actions and pardons. Responding to Trump's claims, Biden, who recently announced that he is suffering from prostate cancer, said: 'Let me be clear: I made the decisions during my presidency. I made the decisions about the pardons, executive orders, legislation, and proclamations. Any suggestion that I didn't is ridiculous and false.' The former president added that his successor wanted to use his latest executive order as a 'distraction' tactic. 'This is nothing more than a distraction by Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans who are working to push disastrous legislation that would cut essential programs like Medicaid and raise costs on American families, all to pay for tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy and big corporations,' Biden said. Trump's investigation of the Biden administration marks an escalation in his targeting of political opponents. As part of their claims about Biden's presidency, Trump and his allies have sought to capitalise on a comment made in the book Original Sin by CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios' Alex Thompson. 'Five people were running the country, and Joe Biden was at best a senior member of the board,' the pair wrote. Those close to Biden have hit out at the book, with his granddaughter Naomi describing it as 'political fairy smut for the permanent, professional chattering class'. Biden withdrew from last year's presidential race after a disastrous debate with Trump, which led to increased scrutiny about his mental acuity.
Irish Examiner
04-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
EU plans would extend right for 4m Ukrainians to stay in bloc until 2027
The European Commission has said more than four million Ukrainians living in the EU should have their right to stay extended until March 2027, while calling for efforts to promote voluntary returns to their home country. Temporary protection status for Ukrainians who fled after Russia's full-scale invasion of February 2022 would be extended by one year until March 2027, under a European Commission proposal published on Wednesday. EU member states must approve the extension, which applies to 4.3 million Ukrainians, one-third of whom are children. While calling for the extension, the commission also urged EU governments to think beyond the temporary fix by making it easier for Ukrainians to obtain other types of residence permits, such as work and student visas. It said governments should set up programmes to promote voluntary returns to Ukraine, including by supporting exploratory visits. Magnus Brunner, the EU's internal affairs commissioner, stressed that all returns would be voluntary and that ending temporary protection status would be a decision taken with EU member states and Ukraine 'once we have a stable situation'. The proposals came as Ukraine's government outlined plans for 'unity hubs' – community centres which will offer its citizens information about returning home and integrating into their host societies. The first unity hub is due to open this summer in Berlin, with others planned in Prague and Alicante. Ukraine's deputy prime minister, Oleksiy Chernyshov, told reporters: 'We desperately need Ukrainians back home once the war is over. We need to develop the Ukrainian economy, we need to transform Ukraine into a prosperous economy and develop democracy.' Chernyshov said that if Ukraine were to attain the 'quite achievable' goal of doubling the size of its economy in the decade after the war it could need an additional four million people in the labour market. 'Only the strong economy can pave the way to the future success of Ukraine and successful integration into the European Union,' he added. The proposals follow inconclusive talks in Istanbul, where Russia and Ukraine agreed only on a prisoner exchange, while Moscow refuses to compromise on its maximalist war aims, which include the recognition of four Ukrainian regions it claims, but does not fully occupy. Chernyshov noted that 'the results we are getting with these talks are not the ones that could have been achieved'. He said a voluntary returns programme being developed with UN agencies the IOM and UNHCR, would answer questions facing every Ukrainian family now in Europe: 'How they will return back home? What are going to be the possibilities and proposals for their job? Where are they going to live, where are their kids going to go to school. What is the healthcare system proposal – and so on.' The commission is releasing €4bn to support Ukrainians in the EU, on top of €15bn allocated to member states since 2022. The EU activated its temporary protection directive for Ukrainians in March 2022, in an unprecedented gesture of support. That temporary status has been extended several times, but several EU governments have begun exploring other options. In the Czech Republic, Ukrainians earning at least 440,000 Czech crowns (€17,700), with two years' residence, can now apply for a long-term residence permit. In Poland, Ukrainians who have had temporary protection for at least one year can apply for a three-year residence permit, although they would lose certain benefits such as free healthcare and a waiver on university tuition fees. Norway, which is outside the EU but operates a similar temporary protection scheme, announced last year it was tightening up rules, so Ukrainians from areas that are considered safe would be treated like any other asylum seeker and not automatically granted the right to stay. Support for Ukrainians in the EU remains high, but has ebbed since the early days of the invasion. By February 2024, 71% of people surveyed by Eurobarometer supported Ukrainian refugees, compared with 88% in the immediate aftermath of the invasion. - The Guardian Read More Zelensky calls Russia peace proposal an 'ultimatum' and demands talks with Putin
