European Union Proposes Extending Protection for Ukrainian Refugees Until 2028 with New Restrictions for Military-Age Men

BRUSSELS: The European Union has proposed extending temporary protection for millions of Ukrainians displaced by Russia’s war until March 2028, while introducing new eligibility rules that would exclude newly arriving Ukrainian men of military age who are subject to military service obligations.

The proposal, announced by the European Commission, would preserve residence rights, access to employment, healthcare, education, and social services for the more than 4.4 million Ukrainians already benefiting from the bloc’s temporary protection scheme. The extension would not affect those currently residing in EU member states under the programme.

Under the new plan, however, Ukrainian men aged 23 to 60 who newly arrive in the European Union and are not legally permitted to leave Ukraine because of military service obligations would no longer qualify for automatic temporary protection. They would still be able to apply for asylum under existing national and EU procedures. The proposed change follows a request from the Ukrainian government as it seeks to maintain military manpower amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.

The European Commission has also proposed a voluntary return framework to support Ukrainians who wish to return home when security conditions improve. At the same time, human rights officials have cautioned against reducing protections prematurely, stressing that many parts of Ukraine remain unsafe and that displaced people should not face uncertainty or pressure to return before conditions allow.

The proposal will now be considered by EU member states. If approved, it would represent the latest extension of the bloc’s Temporary Protection Directive, first activated following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 to provide immediate protection for people fleeing the war.