European Union member states agreed on Wednesday to prolong temporary protection for people fleeing Ukraine until March 2028, while introducing a new condition that will effectively bar most men of conscription age from entering the scheme. According to a statement from the Council of the EU, future applicants must demonstrate that they have “fulfilled their military obligations” in Ukraine. The restriction applies only to new arrivals and will not affect the more than four million Ukrainians already granted protection across the bloc.

The decision, announced by the Irish presidency of the EU Council, frames the measure as a way to “ensure that Ukraine can defend itself” while preserving stability for those already under protection. Officials in Warsaw and Brussels confirm that Kyiv formally requested the bloc not to extend protection to men of mobilization age, as part of its effort to sustain military recruitment. Several member states had already signalled unease over the rising number of draft-age men arriving from Ukraine. Denmark moved earlier to deny residence permits to this group, and Germany’s interior minister noted the trend needed to be addressed.

To qualify under the new rules, applicants will need to present a passport bearing an exit stamp from Ukrainian authorities confirming lawful departure, or a document proving exemption from military service. The change is expected to reduce the flow of men seeking to avoid conscription, while also easing domestic political pressure in host countries where the cost of accommodating refugees has, in some quarters, fuelled anti-Ukrainian sentiment. The restriction does not apply to women or to men outside the 23–60 age bracket, nor to those already under temporary protection.

The EU activated its Temporary Protection Directive for the first time in March 2022, granting Ukrainians immediate rights to residence, work, healthcare and education. The extension to 2028 provides legal certainty for those already settled, but the new condition marks a shift in the bloc’s approach, aligning humanitarian protection with Ukraine’s defence needs. The decision is to be formally adopted in the coming weeks and will enter into force after publication in the EU’s Official Journal. The new eligibility rule is set to take effect from March 2027, when the current protection period expires.