Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal at the annual meeting press conference explained that the main goal of creating a new “Ministry of Return of Ukrainians” is to focus efforts on the return of 7.5 million Ukrainians who went abroad due to the war. Currently, the return strategy is divided between several departments, such as the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Reintegration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where it is not a priority.
The new ministry should become the central body that will work exclusively on the development and implementation of the strategy for the return of citizens. According to Shmyhal, it is planned to attract a team of professionals who will deal with this issue on a daily basis.
“In order to return Ukrainians, they must be motivated to return to where they are now. We already understand today that not all Ukrainians will return. But Ukrainians abroad are also our people, they support our state with donations, protests, and expressions of opinion “Shmyhal said.
The Ministry of Return will become a key coordination center that will ensure coordinated actions for the successful return of millions of citizens to Ukraine. His work will also be aimed at countering Russian propaganda that affects Ukrainian refugees abroad.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyi previously explained that a decision on the creation of a new “Ministry of Unity” that will deal with the Ukrainian diaspora is expected in the fall. This ministry will be important for the economic recovery of the country after the war and countering external threats related to the work of Russian structures with Ukrainian refugees.
