Europe doesn’t want to let Ukrainian refugees leave: Bloomberg named the main reason

Since the beginning of the full-scale war, more than 17 million Ukrainians have left the country, with about 6 million settling in European Union countries. These countries have no plans to deport Ukrainians, even at the request of Ukrainian authorities, as they significantly contribute to the local economies.

This information was reported by Bloomberg.

It is noted that most Ukrainians who ended up in EU countries due to the war quickly integrated into society and started working. As a result, they have been boosting the GDP of the countries where they reside. For example, the economic contribution of Ukrainians to Poland’s GDP last year ranged from 0.7% to 1.1%. In the Czech Republic, Ukrainian citizens contributed 3 billion Czech crowns to the budget in the first three months of this year.

At the same time, Ukraine is in critical need of its citizens to return, as the country faces a shortage of workers both for reconstruction efforts and the frontlines. However, many Ukrainians are not in a hurry to return home.

Global leaders are not accommodating the Ukrainian authorities, who have repeatedly requested the return of their citizens. This situation is creating an economic conflict between states, with Ukrainians caught in the middle.

It’s worth noting that the National Bank of Ukraine predicts an escalation of the migration crisis due to attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure. According to forecasts, another 400,000 Ukrainians may leave the country by the end of the year.

European countries continue to support Ukrainian refugees, providing them with financial aid, assistance in finding jobs, and housing. The top three EU countries hosting the most Ukrainian refugees are Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic, which together have provided shelter to almost 2.5 million Ukrainians.

Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Norway, France, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom are providing a high level of support to Ukrainian refugees. As a result, the majority of Ukrainians are not planning to return home as long as the war in Ukraine continues.

As of May 2024, the number of refugees in European Union countries continues to grow. The total number of Ukrainian citizens abroad who have temporary protection status in the EU has reached 4.26 million people.