EU may deny temporary protection to military-age Ukrainian men
The European Commission has proposed ending temporary protection for newly arriving Ukrainian men subject to military obligations. The plan does not affect Ukrainians already in the EU and requires approval from member states.
The European Commission on Friday announced a proposal that could deny temporary protection in the European Union to newly arriving Ukrainian men of military age. The change targets those who are prohibited from leaving Ukraine due to their military duties. EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner emphasized that the protection status itself would remain, but new conditions may apply.
Since Russia's invasion in March 2022, Ukrainians fleeing the war have enjoyed blanket temporary protection in the EU without individual assessments. That status expires in March 2027 and must be extended. The proposal, formulated in gender-neutral terms, would likely affect men aged 23 to 60. It applies only to new arrivals and will take effect only after official approval by the Council of Europe and publication in the EU's Official Journal.
According to Eurostat, as of March 31, 4.33 million Ukrainians were under temporary protection in the EU, with 29.4% in Germany, 22.2% in Poland, and 8.8% in the Czech Republic. Slightly more than a quarter were adult males. Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Michael O'Flaherty criticized the proposal, urging "more solidarity, not less."
The EU justified the move by saying Ukraine had requested it and that Kyiv's need to enforce military obligations is legitimate. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt supported ending automatic protection for military-age men but said they should be able to apply for asylum. Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner also strongly backed the change, while Estonian Interior Minister Igor Taro was skeptical, preferring to extend the current system without exceptions.
The debate follows a rise in arrivals of military-age Ukrainians. Men aged 23–60 are generally barred from leaving Ukraine. Although conscription starts at 18, military service begins at 25. Last summer, Kyiv allowed men aged 18–23 to leave, leading to a spike in departures. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has repeatedly called on Kyiv to prevent young men from leaving, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that the return of military-age men is a matter of fairness. The proposal now requires approval by a majority of EU member states, with ministers noting that past decisions were made "very quickly."
