Oleksandra Bienert, chairperson of the Alliance of Ukrainian Organizations, has rejected the proposal by Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) to restrict the protection status of combat-capable Ukrainian men within the European Union. Speaking to “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” (Friday edition), she stated that human rights must be protected even in wartime. According to Bienert, Europe’s primary role should not be to engage in a migration debate concerning Ukrainians, but rather to dedicate its efforts to ending the war and enabling a just peace for Ukraine.
Bienert maintained that Europe possesses the means to undermine Russia’s war capabilities. She pointed to several measures, including consistent sanctions, closing loopholes used to circumvent sanctions, leveraging frozen Russian assets, and supplying the necessary air defense systems to Ukraine. “The issue is not a lack of possibilities, but a lack of political commitment” she asserted. “Europe must act”.
Currently, Ukrainian war refugees receive shelter in the EU under the so-called Mass Influx Directive, meaning their protection requests are not individually vetted. This EU regulation is valid until March 4, 2027.
