EU member state ambassadors approve extending protection status for Ukrainians displaced by Russia’s war, allowing them to live and work in the European Union and claim certain benefits until March 2028. Multiple outlets report that the decision is made as the conflict continues into its fifth year.
While the EU extends the right to stay for Ukrainians who have fled the war, the agreement also introduces a restriction: military-age men are excluded from qualifying under the extended arrangement. The reports describe the measure as applying across participating EU countries that support the proposal approved by ambassadors.
The extension keeps existing mobility and access to support in place for eligible Ukrainian beneficiaries, but it limits coverage for a specific group based on age and presumed military eligibility. The outlets provide the same broad timeline and conditions, indicating the extension is designed both to maintain support for displaced people already in the EU and to adjust eligibility rules under the ongoing policy framework for temporary protection.
