In her letter to EU leaders, it is stated that temporary protection should be extended, but with serious restrictions. Thus, entry into the countries of the union may be closed to Ukrainian men of draft age.

At the meeting of EU foreign ministers in early June, Germany and other countries already expressed support for complicating entry for men from Ukraine aged 23 to 60. Now the initiative has received support from von der Leyen.

The EU May Limit Temporary Protection for Ukrainian Draft-Age Men

The European Commission is considering the possibility of extending the temporary protection regime for Ukrainian refugees; however, the new rules may include restrictions for men of draft age. This was reported by the German magazine Spiegel, citing a letter from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

According to the publication, the European Commission intends to propose extending the temporary protection mechanism for Ukrainian citizens who left the country due to the war. At the same time, the document states the need to ensure that the extension of the program "does not undermine Ukraine's ability to defend itself."

According to journalists, such wording may indicate a tightening of entry conditions into EU countries for men of draft age. However, the specific parameters of future changes have not yet been disclosed.

As reported by the dpa agency, this issue was discussed by the interior ministers of EU countries in early June. During the consultations, the idea of exempting part of the Ukrainian citizens aged 23 to 60 from the temporary protection directive received support.

Currently, Ukrainians benefit from protection in the EU under the Mass Influx of Displaced Persons Directive. This mechanism allows for residence rights without individual consideration of each application. The current rules have been extended until March 4, 2027.

According to the European Commission, more than 4.3 million Ukrainian citizens have already received temporary protection in EU countries.

At the same time, some states are gradually reducing the volume of assistance to refugees. For example, in Poland, certain social payments have been reduced since March. In Germany, newly arrived Ukrainians no longer receive standard civil benefits and have been transferred to payments provided for asylum seekers.

Discussions are also ongoing in the EU about what will happen after the temporary protection mechanism expires. Among the options being considered are new forms of legalization of stay, a return to regular asylum procedures, and the introduction of restrictions for certain categories of refugees.

Against this backdrop, German experts predict an increase in applications for German citizenship from Ukrainians. It is expected that starting in 2027, many of them will be able to apply for naturalization due to the necessary period of residence in the country.

There is no final decision yet on the extension of temporary protection. However, the discussion in the EU shows that authorities are increasingly trying to find a balance between supporting Ukrainian refugees and the interests of Ukraine itself, which continues to face a shortage of mobilization resources.