Von der Leyen Urges EU Countries to Limit Ukrainian Refugee Intake, Especially Conscription-Age Men

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has addressed a letter to the leaders of European Union countries ahead of the European Council meeting, urging governments to introduce restrictions on the admission of Ukrainian refugees. This was reported by Der Spiegel, dpa, and AFP, which reviewed the letter.

The letter states that the European Commission will propose extending the temporary protection status for Ukrainians. However, the scope of this protection should be limited in a way that does not undermine Ukraine's self-defense capabilities. Although specific measures are not outlined in the letter, this can be interpreted as an allusion to limiting the admission of conscription-age men, a proposal that has been repeatedly reported by Western media.

According to Euractiv, the EU is discussing the possibility of excluding Ukrainian men of conscription age from the expanded temporary protection scheme, which was introduced in response to Russia's full-scale invasion. Any such restriction would apply to new applicants seeking temporary protection. The European Union plans to make a decision on the status of Ukrainian refugees in July 2026, or, if that fails, in September.

The Temporary Protection Directive, which came into effect in March 2022, has granted millions of Ukrainians access to a range of rights in the EU without overwhelming the asylum system. Initially conceived as a short-term emergency measure, its validity has been repeatedly extended. Currently, the directive is valid until March 4, 2027.