On 18 June, the Verkhovna Rada (VR) passed, at second reading, a law regulating the holding of multiple citizenships. The bill was supported by 243 deputies, with 19 voting against and 9 abstaining. The new legislation allows certain foreign nationals to acquire Ukrainian citizenship through a simplified procedure, without being required to renounce their existing citizenship. Until now, obtaining Ukrainian citizenship was conditional on relinquishing any ties to a foreign state.