This article analyses the Ukrainian experiences regarding the state regulation of the ethnic and national sphere development and directions of implementing European ethnic policy standards in accordance with the acts of the Council of Europe and OSCE recommendations. It reveals the political and legal principles of ethnic policy, the shortcomings of the paternalistic model of inter-ethnic relations under the conditions of war, and the state’s lack of financial capacity. Tendencies towards the ethnic and national-civic consolidation of Ukrainian society are shown. A number of problems that require further legislative and state solutions are presented. The author proposes a new approach to determining the priorities of ethnic-national policy, which can be used to create the concept of the ethnic-national development of Ukraine.