Ukraine and Germany have formed a joint working group to discuss how to return Ukrainian men of military age who left the country illegally, according to Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany, Oleksiy Makeiev.
As of late May, Germany hosted approximately 1.35 million Ukrainian refugees, including 356,000 men between the ages of 18 and 63.
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In an interview with state media Ukrinform on Thursday, Makeiev confirmed that the two nations are exchanging information and actively exploring methods to facilitate the return of these individuals.
However, the specific mechanisms currently under discussion have not been disclosed.
The development followed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s April remarks that Berlin would limit the number of Ukrainian men seeking asylum and facilitate their return home during President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Germany.
The ambassador outlined broader efforts to maintain ties with the Ukrainian diaspora, highlighting the establishment of “Unity Hubs.” The first such center, recently opened in Berlin, provides a space for civil society organizations and state services, such as the Pension Fund, to interact directly with Ukrainian citizens.
Makeiev also noted the rising employment and tax contribution rates among Ukrainians residing in Germany.
He stated that both Kyiv and Berlin share a mutual interest in keeping these integrated, professionally trained individuals connected to Ukraine to assist in the country’s eventual reconstruction.
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Shifts in EU refugee policy
The bilateral discussions between Kyiv and Berlin coincide with proposed modifications to the EU’s broader refugee policy.
The European Commission has proposed extending the emergency temporary protection for Ukrainians until March 2028, while excluding newly arriving Ukrainian men of military age from automatic protection starting in spring 2027.
Under the commission’s proposal, newly arriving men subject to Ukraine’s exit ban would no longer be eligible for the blanket temporary protection status, though they would retain the legal right to apply for standard asylum.
EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner said the policy change was drafted in response to direct requests from the Ukrainian government.
Divided member state reactions
The proposal will require approval by a qualified majority of EU member states, but has generated divergent responses across the bloc.
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar said Budapest will not support the proposed restrictions, adding that Hungary intends to continue granting refugee status to individuals arriving from Ukraine, but with a specific focus on ethnic Hungarians, regardless of EU-level policy changes.
According to diplomats, France has also expressed opposition to narrowing access to the protection scheme.
Following this, some member states are tightening regulations independently.
In late June, Denmark introduced legislation to end temporary protection for Ukrainian men aged 23 to 60. If adopted, the Danish measure would apply to all new applications submitted on or after June 25, 2026.
Currently, approximately 4.33 million Ukrainians reside in the EU under temporary protection, with the largest populations located in Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic.
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