Zelensky set December 31, 2019, as the deadline for submitting the bill to the parliament.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has tasked the government with developing news standards in the fight against fake reports.

The Cabinet of Ministers was instructed to draft a bill to regulate activities of the media and table it in parliament for consideration.

This is stipulated in presidential decree No. 837/2019 on priority measures to conduct reforms and strengthen the state.

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The president says the draft law should contain "provisions regarding requirements and standards of reporting news."

Also, the Cabinet of Ministers must hammer out tools to "prevent the dissemination of false, distorted information" and retract such reports.

What is more, the document should prohibit "individuals and legal entities of the aggressor state [the Russian Federation] from owning or financing media outlets in Ukraine."

The bill should also toughen liability for violation of legislation on information.

Zelensky set December 31, 2019, as the deadline for submitting the bill to the parliament.