President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a law that removes the Russian language from the list of languages protected under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in Ukraine.

According to Ukraine’s parliament, Verkhovna Rada, the change is set out in Law No. 14120, which adjusts how Kyiv applies the charter domestically, reflecting a broader shift in language policy during the Russian war against Ukraine.

Under the new rules, application of the European Charter is preserved for all other languages previously covered – Belarusian, Bulgarian, Gagauz, Crimean Tatar, German, Polish, Romanian, Slovak, Hungarian, Czech, Hebrew and Modern Greek.

In addition, the protection is extended to other languages, including Romani, Urum, Rumeika, Krymchak, Karaim and Yiddish, with the Ministry of Culture indicating that the updated list now encompasses 18 languages in total.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that the full restoration of rights for Russian speakers in Ukraine remains a central condition for any “long-term settlement” of the war.