BRUSSELS, Belgium, June 13, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - EU countries on Friday approved 
a one-year extension of the temporary protection offered to Ukrainian 
refugees fleeing Russia's war, allowing them to stay in the bloc until March 
2027. 

Some 4.3 million Ukrainians are registered as refugees across the European 
Union, with Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic hosting the largest 
communities.

"While Russia continues to terrorise Ukrainian civilians with indiscriminate 
air strikes the EU continues to show its solidarity," said Tomasz Siemoniak, 
the interior minister of Poland, which holds the European Union's rotating 
presidency.

"We will continue to offer protection for millions of Ukrainian refugees for 
another year".

The 27-nation bloc granted Ukrainians temporary protections in the weeks 
after Moscow's full-scale invasion of its neighbour in February 2022.

After several roll-overs, the measure was set to expire next March -- but it 
will now be extended until March 4, 2027.

The move, proposed by the European Commission last week, was backed by the 
European Council representing member states during a meeting of interior 
ministers in Luxembourg Friday with "unanimous support", the council said.

Ministers also started debating preparations for an end of the system -- 
which is expected to see some Ukrainians return to their country, while 
others could seek the right to stay on in the bloc.

"The Polish presidency also initiated discussion on a strategy to phase out 
temporary protection once a just peace is achieved," said Siemoniak.

"In the near future, we will work towards common, EU-wide solutions in this 
area, including in the context of returns to Ukraine."

People benefitting from temporary protection enjoy the same rights across the 
EU, including a residence permit, access to the labour market and housing, 
medical assistance, social welfare and access to education.

EU states welcomed millions of Ukrainians with open arms in the early stages 
of the conflict but there are signs of patience wearing thin in some 
countries -- with peace efforts stuttering as the conflict drags into its 
fourth year.

Poland -- a staunch supporter of Kyiv throughout the war and host to one 
million Ukrainian refugees -- recently elected a president who wants to cut 
back their benefits.

And Germany -- the largest single host with almost 1.2 million Ukrainian 
refugees -- is also considering curbing benefits, as the national mood has 
hardened on immigration.

Last week the commission said it was putting in place "an exit strategy" 
stressing temporary protection was by definition temporary.