Von der Leyen reported to be urging EU countries to rethink conditions for accepting Ukrainian refugees

Jun 18, 2026 - 13:12

In a letter sent to EU leaders ahead of a European Council meeting, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has reportedly urged governments to introduce restrictions on accepting Ukrainian refugees.

Source: Der Spiegel, dpa and AFP, which have seen the letter, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The letter states that the European Commission will propose extending the duration of temporary protection for Ukrainians, but the scope of this protection should be limited so that it does not undermine Ukraine's capacity to defend itself.

Although the letter does not specify concrete measures, this can be interpreted as a suggestion that the intake of military-age men should be restricted, as has been repeatedly reported by Western media.

Background:

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, or if that is not possible, 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. Initially conceived as a short-term emergency measure, it has been extended several times. The directive currently runs until 4 March 2027.