Europe extends protection for Ukrainians as Russia intensifies attacks on towns and cities. The Council of the European Union has endorsed the European Commission’s proposal to extend temporary protection for over 4 million Ukrainians until 4 March 2027. These individuals have taken refuge in the EU, fleeing Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine.
Efforts by US President Donald Trump to broker a ceasefire have failed to bring about actual de-escalation. On the contrary, the war has surged in intensity. Following Trump’s phone calls to Russian ruler Vladimir Putin, Moscow launched a record number of Shahed drones, over 400, against Ukraine and carried out one of the largest air assaults on Kyiv since 2022.
What has been decided:
- The protection status is extended for one year, from 2026 to 2027
- The conditions remain unchanged: Ukrainians retain their rights to residence, education, healthcare, and employment
- No new restrictions or exclusions have been introduced
While Russia continues to terrorize Ukraine’s civilian population with indiscriminate airstrikes, the European Union reaffirms its solidarity with the Ukrainian people.
“We will continue to offer protection for millions of Ukrainian refugees for another year,” emphasizes Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak.
Poland, which currently holds the rotating EU Council presidency, also initiated discussions on a strategy for phasing out temporary protection, once peace is achieved. In the coming months, the EU will work toward joint, coordinated decisions on this matter, particularly regarding the return of refugees to Ukraine.
Since March 2022, the EU has granted shelter to more than 4 million Ukrainian refugees under the Temporary Protection Directive. This protection was originally set to expire on 4 March 2026, but will now be extended by another year.
The extension does not alter the scope of the original March 2022 decision—the rights of those eligible for temporary protection remain unchanged.