EU mulls restricting temporary protection for Ukrainian draft-age men

The European Union is weighing amendments to the Temporary Protection Directive, which has allowed more than four million Ukrainians to live and work in EU countries since 2022. Several member states are pushing to exclude military-age men (23–60 with military eligibility) from protection, while others caution against cutting protections and emphasize legal-exit rules under martial law. The talks reflect divergent views on how to balance refugee integration with security, and a formal Commission proposal could arrive in the coming weeks.