Media: Von der Leyen allegedly calls on EU countries to review terms for accepting Ukrainian refugees
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has sent a letter to EU leaders ahead of a European Council meeting, reportedly calling on governments to introduce restrictions on accepting Ukrainian refugees.
As reported by news outlets Der Spiegel, dpa and AFP, the letter allegedly states that the European Commission will propose extending the duration of temporary protection for Ukrainians. However, the scope of this protection should be limited in a way that does not undermine Ukraine's capacity for self-defence.
Although the letter does not specify concrete measures, this can be interpreted as a hint at restricting the admission of men of conscription age. Western media have repeatedly reported on this proposal.
According to Euractiv, the EU is discussing the possibility of excluding Ukrainian men of conscription age from the expanded temporary protection scheme 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; if this is not achieved, then in September.
The Temporary Protection Directive, which came into force in March 2022, gave millions of Ukrainians access to a range of rights in the EU without overburdening the asylum system. It was initially conceived as a short-term emergency measure, but its duration has been extended several times. The directive currently runs until 4 March 2027.
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23 of June 2026
