The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine stated that the decree signed by the President of the Russian Federation Volodymyr Putin, which provides for a simplified procedure for acquiring Russian citizenship for Ukrainian citizens who lived in temporarily uncontrolled territories, has no legal consequences. This is stated in the commentary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The document emphasizes that the decree of the Russian president, which states the simplified procedures for leaving Ukrainian citizenship and acquiring Russian citizenship, is null and void and shows Russia's unwillingness to negotiate, its desire to continue the war, absorb the territories of Ukraine, carry out forcible assimilation and genocide of the Ukrainian people.
"The forced imposition of Russian citizenship on citizens of Ukraine, who as a result of Russian aggression found themselves in inhumane conditions and deprived of the fundamental right to freely choose citizenship, confirms the criminal essence of the totalitarian Russian regime," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
The department condemned the adoption of the document, which is considered a "crime against the sovereignty" of Ukraine.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine strongly condemns the implementation of the mentioned document, regards it as another crime by Russia against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, which grossly violates the Constitution and laws of our state, current norms of international law and Russia's international obligations," the message reads.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the consequences of such normative Russian acts will not have any legal consequences and will not be recognized by Ukraine or most of the UN countries.
"The decree supplements the list of crimes in the course of Russia's armed aggression, which will be considered within the framework of the international tribunal over the leadership of the Russian Federation," the commentary said.