From the Maidan events and the annexation of Crimea, systematic attempts to make Ukraine independent of Russia's influence can be noticed at almost all levels relevant to statehood. The ongoing war and the Kremlin's anti-Ukrainian policy accelerated and intensified this process, extending it also to the world of business.
In a statement recently published on Telegram, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal announced that English may become the official business language in Ukraine. The possibility of introducing appropriate regulations was discussed during the government meeting. Currently, the Council of Ministers is in the process of preparing and drafting a bill on this subject. Nowadays, English is the language of business communication in the entire civilized world, therefore granting it an analogous status in Ukraine will favor the development of business, new investments and acceleration of the country's euro integration. The relevant ministries were instructed to develop specific proposals and prepare the relevant documents [https://t.me/Denys_Smyhal/2872 accessed June 13, 2022].
It would seem that such changes should take place naturally, without interference from the authorities and without the need to introduce legislative changes. However, a smooth transition from the previously used Russian language to English may be prevented by the regulations in force in Ukraine, which are intended to protect the Ukrainian language. Pursuant to Art. 1 clause 7 of the Act on the protection of the functioning of the Ukrainian language as a national language adopted in 2019, The fact that the Ukrainian language holds the status of the only state language recognized on the territory of Ukraine entails the obligation to use it in all activities undertaken by and before state authorities, local self-government units, and in other spheres of public life defined by the law. The above-mentioned general principle is subject to more detail later in the act, which regulates individual spheres of public life, which also include economic relations and the labor market. And so, according to Art. 20 of the act, no one may be forced to use a language other than the national language in the course of performing his / her duties. The exceptions to this rule are services for consumers and other clients who are foreigners or stateless persons, as well as the preparation of legal and technical documents, information and advertising content and other notifications (also oral) addressed to foreigners, stateless persons, legal persons, foreign authorities and institutions, as well as international organizations.
It follows from the above-mentioned provisions that so far the use of a language other than Ukrainian in business relations was only incidental, when it was impossible to communicate with the other party using the national language. According to Prime Minister Denis Szmyhal's announcement, English would become a language similar to Ukrainian. If the proposed changes come to fruition, it will mean a considerable revolution, because until now the Russian language has remained in use, and it was also used by many Ukrainian citizens on a daily basis. Regardless of the shape that Ukrainian legislation takes, a clear message has been sent from Kiev that the country is ready for a new chapter in its history, devoid of any influence from the Russian Federation.
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