The article presents the analysis of the ukrainian language policy from 1989 to the present. The peculiarity of the ethnolinguistic situation is due to the multinationality and the use of a large number of languages for everyday communication by citizens of Ukraine. The author gives a description of the national and linguistic situation, brings the analysis of the ethnic structure in accordance with the choice of the language of everyday communication. The controversial nature of language policy is the result of a fierce internal political struggle. The language issue was one of the key issues in all Ukrainian elections from 1989 to 2019. The language of everyday communication also has a great influence on the electoral behavior of citizens. The author's attention is focused on the use of linguistic and ethno-confessional contradictions by Ukrainian political forces waging a struggle for power. The analysis of the key regulatory legal acts that implement, to one degree or another, the state language policy. The author comes to the conclusion about a solid legislative framework necessary for the implementation of a language policy that takes into account the interests of all citizens of multinational Ukraine. But the adopted other contradictory laws and by-laws, as well as political contradictions both in the government and between the government and the opposition, create a conflict situation that negatively affects the socio-political situation in the country. Representatives of European states, primarily Hungary, gave a negative assessment to certain Ukrainian laws regulating language policy. The main argument is the new Education Law, the provisions of which infringe on the rights of national minorities