Ukraine and the EU are looking for a model for the return of refugees: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained the government’s position on men
The issue of the further stay of Ukrainians in the European Union countries is gradually moving from a humanitarian perspective to the sphere of long-term political solutions, as millions of citizens have been living abroad under temporary protection for several years. The return of people is important for Ukraine, but the government emphasizes that such a process can only be voluntary and depends on the security situation, opportunities for work, education of children and basic living conditions for families. During a briefing on June 10, the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Heorhiy Tykhyi, commented on Ukraine’s negotiations with the European Commission on the future of Ukrainian refugees.
What the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says about the return of citizens as a voluntary process
Heorhiy Tykhyi paid special attention to discussions around possible changes in the mechanism of temporary protection, in particular for men of draft age. He stated that Ukraine is interested in the return of its citizens from abroad, regardless of whether they are men, women, families with children or people of other categories. According to him, the presence of millions of Ukrainians outside the country is a serious challenge for the country, but the return of people cannot be considered separately from the security situation.
The Foreign Ministry emphasizes that the decision to return must be made by the person himself, and the state must work on the conditions that will make such a step real. This includes protection from military threats, access to education, medical services, housing and infrastructure, without which families will not be able to return to a stable life.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman explained that the return of Ukrainians depends not only on the general situation in the country, but also on specific opportunities in communities. As an example, he cited Zaporizhzhia, where the creation of a network of underground schools became an important factor for some families who considered returning home.
Such an example shows that for families with children, safe education can be as important as work or housing. If a child does not have the opportunity to attend school in relatively protected conditions, the family often postpones its return, even if they maintain ties with Ukraine and plan to return later.
Ukraine is consulting with the European Commission on programs that could support the voluntary return of citizens. Such mechanisms are considered as part of a broader policy related to the future of temporary protection of Ukrainians in EU countries.
The Foreign Ministry separately denied reports that Ukraine allegedly plans to pay citizens money for returning home. Heorhiy Tykhyi stressed that such statements were spread without official grounds and do not correspond to the position of the Ukrainian authorities.
Financial support may be provided by individual European states
According to the Foreign Ministry spokesman, some countries are indeed discussing or already implementing programs under which governments can financially support Ukrainians who voluntarily return home. Such funds come from the budgets of the respective states, and not from the Ukrainian budget.
In particular, a similar approach is already being used by Switzerland. For European governments, such programs can be a way to reduce long-term costs of supporting refugees, and for Ukrainians, additional assistance during relocation and rebuilding life in Ukraine.
Despite the interest in the return of citizens, Ukraine supports the preservation of the current level of protection for those Ukrainians who are legally in the European Union. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes that people who use the EU legal mechanisms must remain protected.
This approach means that Kyiv does not raise the issue of return as a mandatory requirement for all citizens abroad. The Ukrainian side links this process with security, the possibility of a normal life within the country and decisions that will be made jointly with European partners.
According to information voiced by representatives of the European Union, temporary protection for Ukrainians may be extended until 2028. At the same time, possible changes to the rules are being considered within the framework of these discussions, in particular regarding certain categories of citizens.
For Ukrainians in Europe, the key point remains that the current mechanism continues to operate for the time being, and any changes require coordination at the EU level. The Ukrainian side, for its part, declares its support for the voluntary return of citizens and the preservation of legal protection for those who are legally abroad.
What is being discussed regarding men of military age
Amidst the negotiations in the EU, information has emerged about a possible revision of the rules for Ukrainian men of military age. According to preliminary data, some countries, among which Germany and Austria were mentioned, are considering an option under which men aged 23 to 60 who will arrive in the EU for the first time may not receive temporary protection automatically.
If such an approach is implemented, the applications of these citizens could be considered individually under the standard asylum procedure. There is no final decision on this issue yet, and the further position will depend on the proposals of the European Commission and agreements between the EU member states.
