On June 13, 2025, the Council of the European Union stated on the unanimous extension of the regime of temporary protection for Ukrainian citizens who fled from Russian aggression. The new validity period of this system has been extended until March 4, 2027. This decision covers more than 4 million Ukrainians who are in the territory of EU member states under the status of temporary protection.
The statement of the Council of the EU emphasizes that the extension of temporary protection allows to relieve the burden on the national asylum systems in the member states. People under this regime do not need to submit individual applications for asylum. As the Council of the EU explains, the extension until 2027 is a clear signal to all Ukrainian displaced persons that they will not have to apply for asylum individually during the period of temporary protection.
The council also clarified that the extension does not change the basic conditions of the decision, which was adopted back in March 2022, shortly after the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. In particular, the same categories of persons entitled to temporary protection remain in force, as well as the entire range of rights they receive under this system. Thus, the legal base remains stable: it includes both citizens of Ukraine and their family members, as well as some other categories of persons who were on the territory of Ukraine at the time the war began.
Against the background of the decision to extend the protection, political discussions about the future of this system also began at the same time. Polish Minister of Internal Affairs Tomasz Semoniak said that the Polish presidency initiated the discussion of a unified strategy for the gradual abolition of temporary protection after the arrival of a “just peace”. As Semoniak stated, in the near future Poland will work on developing joint decisions for the entire European Union regarding the transition to new forms of legal status for Ukrainians, as well as the creation of mechanisms for the return of people to Ukraine when the conditions for this arise.
The Council of the European Union notes that in preparation for the future cancellation of temporary protection, the recommendation of the Council of the EU on the coordination of exit from this system is being considered. This will include the creation of mechanisms for the smooth transition of people to other legal grounds for residence in the EU member states, as well as ensuring ways for the sustainable return and reintegration of citizens in Ukraine.
On June 4, 2025, the European Commission officially proposed to extend the period of temporary protection for another year, until March 4, 2027. The explanations for this proposal state that the decision is dictated by the continuation of illegal Russian attacks and the unstable situation in Ukraine, which persists to this day.
At the same time, the European Commission emphasized that in case of positive changes in Ukraine, which will make it possible to organize the gradual safe return of citizens and their reintegration into society, it will be able to submit to the Council a proposal for the early termination of the temporary protection regime even before 2027. That is, the legal mechanism provides for flexibility in case of changes in security and humanitarian conditions in Ukraine.
Thus, the approved extension became another confirmation of the position of the European Union to support displaced Ukrainians during the long phase of the war, while gradually preparing for a difficult discussion about the transition to other models of residence after the end of hostilities.
