European Commission: Temporary Protection Ban Will Not Affect Men Who Left Ukraine Before June 26

The European Commission on June 26 proposed a ban on temporary protection in the European Union for Ukrainian men liable for military service. However, these restrictions will not affect men who left Ukraine before the changes to the EU directive come into force. This was stated by Magnus Brunner, European Commissioner for Migration, to a correspondent of «European Pravda» from Brussels.

Brunner emphasized that for individuals already in the EU and receiving temporary protection, nothing will change. The European Commission published its proposal to extend the Temporary Protection Directive for Ukrainians fleeing the war in the EU for another year, until March 4, 2028. The exception will be those fleeing service in the Ukrainian army.

The next step is the discussion and approval of this European Commission proposal by the Council of the EU. According to «European Pravda», the EU plans to make a decision on the status of Ukrainian refugees in July 2026, or in September if that is not possible.

The Temporary Protection Directive, introduced 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.