The European Union will stop granting temporary protection to military-age Ukrainian men starting August 5, the Czech Interior Ministry said, according to RT.
Czech Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar spoke on behalf of the union on restricting Ukrainian men's right to remain in the EU. Security agency heads from European countries reportedly met to discuss the move, and most of Metnar's counterparts backed the idea.
Analyst points to Kyiv-Berlin deal
Alexei Mukhin, general director of the Center for Political Information, told RT the shift resulted from direct arrangements between Kyiv and Berlin. He said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had frequently traveled to Germany asking its leaders to encourage the return of men fit for military service, and that the two sides appeared to have reached a consensus.
Budget pressures cited
Experts linked the tougher stance to strained European budgets and what analysts described as a deliberate effort to create a hostile environment for Ukrainian draft-age men. Reports last year indicated the EU Council planned to gradually end its refugee program for Ukrainians, with officials agreeing on common rules aimed at their sustainable return and reintegration into Ukraine.
