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“The U.S. Embassy is limited in our ability to influence Ukrainian law” As Ukraine Refuses To Accept Dual Citizenship, Including With United States. Why?

From A State Department spokesperson:  "United States law does not prohibit a U.S. citizen from holding dual or multiple nationalities.  U.S. law does not require a U.S. citizen to choose between U.S. nationality and another nationality (or nationalities), including Ukrainian nationality.  We refer you to our webpage on Travelers with Dual Nationality for more information."

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: kyivacs@state.gov

To:

Sent: Tue, Jun 4, 2024 at 2:43 PM

Subject: Message for U.S. Citizens: Elimination of Residence Abroad Exception to Dual Citizen Departure

Message for U.S. Citizens: Elimination of "Residence Abroad" Exception to Dual Citizen Departure

Date: June 4, 2024

Location: Ukraine (countrywide)

Event: The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv understands that, effective June 1, Ukraine has eliminated a “residence abroad” exception that previously allowed certain Ukrainian males aged 18 to 60 to depart the country. After this change, U.S.-Ukrainian dual citizens, including those who live in the United States, may no longer be able to depart the country.

Ukrainian law does not recognize dual citizenship. U.S.-Ukrainian dual citizens are therefore treated solely as Ukrainian citizens while in Ukraine and are subject to the rights and obligations of Ukrainian citizens. Under Ukraine’s martial law, men between the ages of 18 and 60 are not permitted to leave the country. Previously, dual U.S.-Ukrainian citizens in this group could enter and then depart Ukraine if they had deregistered their Ukrainian residency and registered their U.S. residency. According to our information, this exception was revoked as of June 1.

The U.S. Embassy is limited in our ability to influence Ukrainian law, including the application of martial law and the mobilization law to Ukrainian citizens. If you are in Ukraine and cannot leave the country, shelter in place and obey all local orders. If you are not currently in Ukraine, we strongly recommend against all travel to Ukraine by U.S. citizen males aged 18 to 60 who also have Ukrainian citizenship or a claim to Ukrainian citizenship and who do not wish to stay in Ukraine indefinitely. There is an extremely high risk you will not be allowed to depart, even with a U.S. passport.

We remind all Americans of the State Department's Level 4: Do Not Travel warning for Ukraine. For further information, see State Department websites for what you should know as a dual citizen traveler, and what we can and cannot do during a crisis.

Assistance:

U.S. Embassy Kyiv

+380 44 521 50 00

kyivacs@state.gov

https://ua.usembassy.gov/

State Department – Consular Affairs

+1-888-407-4747 or +1-202-501-4444

Ukraine Country Information

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