That's a bit of problem: Luxembourg government responds to arrival of Ukrainian men
Photo: Luxembourg made a statement about Ukrainian men (Getty Images)
In Luxembourg, the growing number of Ukrainian men of military age has been called a problem amid the country’s provision of military aid to Kyiv. Opposition has criticized such statements, emphasizing that applying moral pressure on refugees is unacceptable, Luxembourg Times reports.
Luxembourg government’s position
Luxembourg’s Defense Minister Yuriko Backes said the situation where the country provides weapons to defend Ukraine while simultaneously receiving increasing numbers of young male refugees is controversial.
"And I think that’s effectively a bit of a problem if, on the one hand, we provide military support so that the Ukrainians can defend themselves. And then at the same time, we have young men coming to Luxembourg," Backes said.
She was supported by Interior Minister Léon Gloden, who called it "strange" that people who should be fighting are coming to EU countries as asylum seekers, and urged for a common solution at the EU level.
Reaction from opposition and volunteers
MP Sam Tanson sharply criticized these statements, stressing that offering refuge is a constitutional duty, not a symbolic gesture.
"Returning to a war is an existential question of life and death. “No Luxembourg minister can make a moral judgement on this from a distance," Tanson said.
Meanwhile, volunteers from the organization LUkraine pointed out that the problem is not the people, but the pace of weapons delivery, shortages of which are causing many volunteers to die on the front lines.
Luxembourg’s assistance
Despite the debate, Luxembourg remains an important partner for Ukraine, having already provided over €400 million in aid.
Together with Estonia, Luxembourg also leads the IT coalition under the Ramstein framework.
At the same time, the temporary protection status for Ukrainians in the country has been extended until March 2027.
Restrictions planned for refugees
Earlier, Norway changed its refugee reception rules, tightening requirements specifically for Ukrainian men who do not have grounds for exemption from military service.
Meanwhile, in the US, thousands of Ukrainians who entered under the Uniting for Ukraine program face the threat of deportation as their humanitarian parole expires.
RBC-Ukraine also reported on whether Ukrainians are still welcome in Europe in the fifth year of the full-scale war, and where support for Ukrainian citizens remains the lowest.
