EU extends Ukrainian refugee protection to 2028 but bars military-age men
EU countries agreed on Wednesday to extend the temporary protection granted to Ukrainian refugees until 2028, but with a significant new restriction: men who could be called up for military service in Ukraine will be excluded from the scheme.
The decision, made by EU ambassadors, will be formally adopted in the coming weeks. It applies only to new applicants for temporary protection, meaning those already benefiting from the scheme will not be affected.
According to a press release from the Council of the EU, the new rule is intended to support Ukraine's evolving defense needs. "Taking into account Ukraine’s evolving defense needs, going forward temporary protection will be granted only to those who satisfy their military obligations in Ukraine," the statement read.
Ukrainian men aged 22 to 60 are currently prohibited from leaving the country, with some exceptions. Men aged 25 to 60 can be conscripted into the armed forces. The new EU rule means that men in this age group who arrive in the EU will not be eligible for temporary protection unless they can demonstrate that they have fulfilled their military obligations in Ukraine.
The temporary protection scheme was established in 2022 following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It allows Ukrainians to live, work, receive medical assistance, and access education in EU countries. As of May 31, 2026, 4.38 million people who fled Ukraine were under temporary protection.
Magnus Brunner, the EU's Commissioner for Migration, said that the early extension of the scheme is intended to provide longer-term certainty for Ukrainians in the EU. "We need clarity now (for Ukrainians in the EU)… this is why the prolongation we're doing is so early, rather than waiting for 2027 to do it," Brunner told journalists in June.
Jim O'Callaghan, Ireland's migration minister, hailed the agreement for "providing stability for those who found safety in the EU."
The decision comes as individual EU countries are hardening their stance toward Ukrainians residing in their countries. Poland, Germany, and Czechia, which together account for more than half of the Ukrainian refugees across the bloc, have all presented draft rules that seek to toughen the terms on which Ukrainians can access temporary protection.
Under the new rules, Ukrainian men of military age who arrive in the EU will have to prove that they left the country legally by presenting a passport bearing an exit stamp or a document confirming exemption from military service. Those who cannot provide such documentation will not be eligible for temporary protection and will have to apply for asylum instead.
The temporary protection scheme has been a lifeline for millions of Ukrainians fleeing the war. However, the need to renew the protections on an annual basis has left many living in a state of limbo, unsure each year if they will continue to be allowed to remain in the EU.
The decision to exclude military-age men from the scheme is a response to requests from the Ukrainian government, which is seeking to bolster its armed forces as the war with Russia continues.
The new rules will take effect from March 2027. Until then, the current temporary protection scheme remains in place for all eligible Ukrainians.
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#EU countries have agreed to extend the temporary protection granted to Ukrainian refugees until 2028 - but have excluded men who could be called up to the military.
mastodon bot · about 4 hours ago
European countries have agreed to extend the temporary protection granted to Ukrainian refugees until 2028 — but have excluded men who could be called up to the military.
bluesky_Politico Europe · about 4 hours ago
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