EU Considers Limiting Protection for Ukrainian Men

The European Union is discussing changes to its temporary protection scheme for Ukrainian refugees, including the possibility of excluding some military-age men from the program, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner has confirmed.

According to Brunner, member states broadly support extending temporary protection for Ukrainian citizens until 2028. At the same time, they are considering adjustments that could affect men roughly between the ages of 23 and 60.

“That is what the Ukrainians are asking us for”, Brunner said at a press conference, according to the Ukrainian outlet Hromadske.

He said discussions are taking place with countries hosting the largest numbers of Ukrainian refugees, including Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria and the Baltic states.

A final decision could be made in the coming weeks, Brunner added.

Earlier, Euractiv reported, citing an internal EU Council document, that member states were already discussing the future of the temporary protection scheme beyond March 2027. Among the options under consideration are limiting protection for military-age men or for Ukrainians who left the country in violation of existing mobilization rules.

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