You're reading: NSDC: Russian cannot be second national language in Ukraine

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) Oleksiy Danilov said that the preservation of the status of the Ukrainian language as the only national language is the fundamental issue, however he notes the importance of learning English in the country.

“The issue of language is a very important, fundamental issue for the government. There can be no second Russian language, not because it does not need to be learnt, it does not need to be known. If we are talking about Ukraine, it should be the only national Ukrainian language. Should there be a second language in Ukraine? Certainly, it should be. However, it should be English, which should be learnt starting from kindergarten,” Danilov said in an interview with the Ukrainska Pravda (Ukrainian Truth) publication on July 6.

“All citizens of Ukraine, if we want to be in a civilized world, must know and use the English language. This is the obligatory matter,” the council’s secretary said.

Regarding the conduct of elections in Donbas, he said that “certain conditions must occur” for this and at present he does not see how the elections can be held there.

“If there are some changes, some processes, sooner or later there will be elections there. However, the elections must be held on the Ukrainian territory, there must be a Ukrainian flag above a polling station, there must be Ukrainian reporters and Ukrainian political forces. The election must be held due to the Ukrainian law, constitution, and the Ukrainian Central Election Commission should conduct them there. It is hard for me to imagine such conditions,” Danilov said.