Sweden calls for restricting temporary protection for Ukrainian men of military age

Sweden’s migration minister Johan Forssell has stated that Ukrainian men of military age who are in EU countries should remain in Ukraine and take part in combat operations. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing a publication in The Guardian.

According to Forssell, achieving this goal requires restricting the rights of those who are only now arriving in the European Union seeking temporary protection.

“Any restrictions should apply only to newly arrived individuals seeking temporary protection status, not to those already covered by the scheme,” Forssell said.

The minister also stressed that European countries must take into account the military context and the need to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capability.

The statement came amid broader discussions within the EU about the future of the temporary protection regime, which was introduced following the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. As part of these discussions, the question has been raised of potentially restricting new applications from men of military age seeking asylum in Europe. At the same time, any changes should not affect those Ukrainians who have already received protected status in EU countries.

Separately, the discussions also address visa policy toward Russian citizens, with a number of countries advocating for stricter measures.

Following the activation of the temporary protection mechanism, the EU granted the right to residency, employment, and social benefits to millions of Ukrainians. According to European institutions, this concerns more than 4 million people, the majority of whom are in Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic.

EU countries are discussing the possibility of reviewing or revoking temporary protection status for Ukrainian men of military age, though no unified position on the matter has yet emerged among member states.