EU may exclude Ukrainian men of combat age from protection status

European Union interior ministers are set to discuss a potential change to the temporary protection status currently afforded to all Ukrainian citizens within the EU. The proposal, which has been reported by Euractiv, suggests excluding Ukrainian men of combat age from this protection.

The temporary protection status, which has been extended to over 4.3 million Ukrainians who have fled to the EU since the start of the war, is currently set to last until the spring of 2027. The EU spokesperson Markus Lammert confirmed that discussions regarding the "next steps" are underway, with the interior ministers scheduled to address the matter during a Council meeting.

While Lammert did not provide specific details on proposals, he acknowledged that temporary protection would be a topic of discussion. The potential exclusion of men of combat age is seen by some as a measure that could support Ukraine's military recruitment efforts, which are reportedly under pressure due to the protracted conflict.

According to the Euractiv report, any such change in policy would likely apply only to new applicants seeking protection, rather than those already established within EU member states. This distinction aims to address the ongoing needs of Ukraine's armed forces while continuing to offer refuge to displaced civilians.

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Temporary protection will be a topic in the framework of those discussions.