Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal with a request to work out the issue raised in the electronic petition on the introduction of a comprehensive exam for acquiring Ukrainian citizenship.

The petition, registered at the end of May, gained more than 26,000 votes, so President Zelensky personally considered it and delegated consideration of the issue to Prime Minister Shmyhal.

According to the law "On the Citizenship of Ukraine", a person seeking to obtain Ukrainian citizenship must confirm only the level of knowledge of the Ukrainian language. However, the exam proposed by the petitioner is broader and includes testing for the:

• Level of Ukrainian language proficiency;

• Knowledge of the history of Ukraine;

• Understanding the Constitution of Ukraine;

• Learning the national anthem.

The Prime Minister supports the petition. "Citizenship of Ukraine today is a privilege. And everyone who applies for it must know and understand the basics of our country," Shmyhal said.

Recall that, in accordance with the Constitution, the grounds and procedure for acquiring citizenship are determined by the Law "On the Citizenship of Ukraine". According to Zelensky, this is why the process of introducing a mandatory exam will require changes in legislation.

Denys Shmyhal announced that the Cabinet of Ministers will develop the relevant bills. The ministries of justice and internal affairs must prepare and submit draft laws for consideration to the Verkhovna Rada. At the same time, the Ministry of Education will develop an exam for proficiency in the state language, knowledge of the history of Ukraine and the foundations of the Constitution.