The draft law on granting special status for Poles in Ukraine, which Volodymyr Zelensky introduced on Monday, has been published on the Ukrainian Parliament website.

The draft law is titled "On the establishment of legal and social guarantees for citizens of the Republic of Poland who are in the territory of Ukraine".

The President's Office explained that the president took this step "as a sign of gratitude to the Polish people for their solidarity and support for 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 citizens of Poland who are in Ukraine, similar to those established in the Polish law "On assistance to citizens of Ukraine in connection with the armed conflict on the territory of this country" adopted on 12 March 2022.

The draft law developed at the initiative of the president envisages, in particular, granting Polish citizens and their family members the opportunity to legally 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 social benefits in accordance with Ukrainian legislation.

The text of the draft law is available on the website of the Verkhovna Rada.

President of Poland Andrzej Duda announced earlier on Monday that Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday submitted a bill to the Parliament on the special status of Poles in Ukraine.

It is noteworthy that Zelenskyy did this on the day when Poland commemorates the victims of the Volyn tragedy.

In May, President Zelenskyy announced a bill on expanded opportunities for Polish citizens in Ukraine to thank Poland for accepting Ukrainians fleeing the war.

Read more in the article Ukraine - Poland Relations: How to Leave Historical Burden in the Past