EU Ties New Protection for Ukrainians to Military Obligation Compliance

The European Union has agreed to extend temporary protection for people fleeing Russia’s war against Ukraine until March 4, 2028, while introducing a new requirement that future applicants must comply with Ukraine’s military obligations.

According to an official statement on the European Council’s website, EU member states agreed on Tuesday, July 14, to extend their support for Ukraine “for as long as it takes” while acknowledging Kyiv’s need to defend itself against Russia’s full-scale invasion.

The new restriction will apply only to new applicants for temporary protection and will not affect the more than four million Ukrainians already benefiting from the scheme across the EU.

Under the updated rules, displaced Ukrainians seeking temporary protection will have to prove they have complied with Ukraine’s military obligations.

This may include presenting a passport bearing an official Ukrainian exit stamp confirming they left the country legally or providing paper or electronic documents confirming exemption from or compliance with military service requirements.

“We remain steadfast in our support for Ukraine against Russia’s illegal war of aggression,” said Irish Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU.

He said extending the protection scheme by another year provides stability for Ukrainians who have found safety in the EU while ensuring the framework also respects Ukraine’s “legitimate needs” to defend itself.

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The temporary protection mechanism, first activated in March 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion, grants displaced Ukrainians the right to reside, work, access housing, healthcare, social assistance, and education for children throughout the EU.

According to the Council, 4.38 million displaced Ukrainians were benefiting from temporary protection across the bloc as of May 31, 2026.

The Council is expected to formally adopt the extension in the coming weeks. The decision will enter into force after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU.

The EU also continues to prepare for the eventual phase-out of temporary protection once conditions in Ukraine allow.

Under a roadmap agreed in 2025, member states are encouraged to help eligible Ukrainians transition to longer-term residence permits based on employment, education, or family ties, while supporting their eventual voluntary return and reintegration in Ukraine.

Earlier, Poland’s Rzeczpospolita reported that the European Commission is preparing the biggest overhaul of the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive for Ukrainians.

As per the report, Ukrainians applying for temporary protection would have to provide official proof from the Ukrainian authorities confirming they are not subject to military mobilization. The proposed requirement would apply to both men and women and would take effect in March 2027, when the current protection scheme expires.

According to Rzeczpospolita, Kyiv requested the changes in early June as part of efforts to strengthen its mobilization policy. Ukrainian authorities have previously asked European countries to help address the issue of military-age men leaving the country illegally, although those appeals have received little support.