The European Commission officially proposed to include Ukraine in the EU roaming zone: what does this mean?

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal emphasized that Ukraine has created an important precedent.

The European Commission has officially proposed integrating Ukraine into a single roaming area with the European Union Roam like at home from January 1, 2026. This was reported by the press service of the European Commission.

It is noted that this will allow Ukrainians to call, send SMS messages and use mobile internet from Ukrainian phone numbers in 27 EU countries without additional costs. The same conditions will be available to EU citizens traveling to Ukraine.

“We want Ukrainian citizens to stay connected with their loved ones in the EU and at home. That is why we are inviting Ukraine to join our roaming family. We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to Ukraine and its citizens,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

In practice, this means that travelers from Ukraine in EU countries, as well as EU citizens in Ukraine, will be able to use mobile communications at the rates of their home operators without additional charges. This applies to calls, text messages and mobile internet.

In addition, it guarantees consumers the right to the same quality and speed of mobile communications as at home, as well as free access to emergency services.

The European Commission added that the current agreement between EU and Ukrainian telecommunications operators will be extended until December 31, 2025. This will ensure that Europeans and Ukrainians continue to enjoy the benefits of the common roaming area until Ukraine actually joins the EU roaming area.

In turn, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal announced during a government meeting that Ukraine is awaiting approval of this decision by the EU Council. Thus, from the beginning of 2026, Ukraine will become part of the single European communications space.

“This is creating an important precedent – so far, no country outside the European Union has joined the Roam like at Home policy,” Shmyhal emphasized.

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Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, European operators, as a sign of solidarity, have begun to provide Ukrainians in the territory of EU member states with temporary preferential conditions for using communications.

Due to the war in Ukraine, the European Commission annually approves the extension for another 12 months of the temporary roaming agreement between European and Ukrainian telecommunications operators, which ensures that refugees from Ukraine can stay connected.

However, now we are talking about Ukraine’s final accession to “roaming like at home” – on the same terms as for all European operators.

Back in 2023, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated that the Cabinet of Ministers had set itself the goal of obtaining permanent free roaming for Ukrainians staying in the European Union. To do this, Ukraine had to adapt domestic legislation to European standards.

In June 2024, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law on the implementation of European roaming legislation .

On April 15, 2025, the Ukrainian parliament adopted a bill that brings Ukraine closer to joining the single roaming area with the EU . The adoption of this bill was the last step before negotiations with Brussels on joining the Roam like at home policy.

(c)UNIAN 2025