The European Commission has neither confirmed nor denied plans to strip protection from Ukrainian men of conscription age, reports UNN with reference to DW.
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In response to questions regarding such reports, EC official spokesperson Marcus Lammert stated at a briefing in Brussels to a DW correspondent that support for Ukraine remains "unwavering" and recalled that the European Union has provided refuge to approximately 4 million Ukrainians under the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD). The current protection regime is in effect until March 2027, and the steps to be taken after this deadline are currently being discussed by the European Commission with EU member states. At the same time, Lammert said that at this stage he could not report on any specific plans or proposals.
Earlier, the publication Euractiv wrote about the possible exclusion of male conscripts from Ukraine from the protection scheme. According to an internal EU Council document reviewed by journalists, among the options being discussed is the extension of temporary protection with a narrowing of its scope, specifically by excluding men of conscription age or individuals who left Ukraine illegally. Such a restriction could be applied to new applicants seeking temporary protection.
According to Euractiv, as of March 2026, 4.33 million Ukrainians held temporary protection status in the EU, 1.27 million of whom lived in Germany. 26.6% of the total number of status holders are adult men. Earlier, the EU Special Envoy for Ukrainian Affairs, Ylva Johansson, stated in an exclusive interview with DW that she expects temporary protection to be extended for another year, but there is currently no consensus within the European Union regarding restrictions for men of mobilization age. Countries are continuing their discussions.