What Ukraine’s diaspora relations strategy should look like

In August, Kyiv announced the creation of a new ministry to manage relations with the Ukrainian diaspora – the Ministry of National Unity. According to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, one of its main tasks will be developing a strategy to encourage Ukrainians to return home to live and work.

But is this goal realistic? And does it justify creating an entirely new ministry? Read more in the article by Olena Babakova, a journalist from Warsaw – Ministry of diaspora: why we need to talk about more than just returning Ukrainians.

It’s worth noting that specialised ministries for diaspora affairs are more common in African and Middle Eastern countries.

In the EU, diaspora relations typically fall under the purview of foreign ministries (as consular services form the backbone of these relations).

In Ukraine's case, however, the problem lies not in the ministry's name or even in the creation of a dedicated government body but in the fact that its proposed functions are based on flawed assumptions.

First, return policies should not be the foundation of diaspora relations. The uncomfortable truth is that most Ukrainians abroad are unlikely to return.

This doesn’t mean return programmes shouldn't exist, but it's important to acknowledge their limited effectiveness from the outset. Such programmes cannot and should not form the basis of dialogue with Ukrainians living abroad.

Second, Ukraine's policies toward its diaspora are starting not from a "neutral" level of trust but from a significant deficit.

Over 16 years in Poland, Babakova has witnessed many changes in Ukraine: four presidents, Russia's annexation of Crimea, war in Donbas, the full-scale invasion, the COVID-19 pandemic, Donald Trump's presidency and its aftermath.

Yet one thing has remained unchanged: Ukraine's poor treatment of its diaspora.

It is extremely difficult to access consular services without resorting to middlemen. We get limited opportunities to vote abroad. Ukrainian officials tend to make disparaging remarks about the diaspora. And on top of these is overall poor communication.

If return is not the answer, how can the diaspora benefit Ukraine?

Ukrainians abroad can speak out about Ukraine in foreign media.

Ukrainian businesses can be developed abroad, promoting their brands as producers of high-quality goods and services.

Moreover, Ukrainians living abroad can help elect pro-Ukrainian politicians to high-ranking positions.

For this to happen, Ukrainian migrants need to become citizens of the countries they have moved to.

The Ukrainian diaspora will be more beneficial to Ukraine when it is not less, but more integrated into the societies and countries that host them.

Effective integration does not mean severing ties with Ukraine or abandoning Ukrainian identity.

The real goal is to create a Ukrainian network that understands its strength and influence, remains coordinated, and maintains cultural connections with Ukraine.

Mass returns are a fantasy, fostering alienation among those who choose not to return and limiting Ukraine's ability to influence its agenda in the host countries.