Latest news with #OleksiyChernyshov
Euronews
4 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Kyiv not to force Ukrainian refugees to return — but hopes they will
With Russia's all-out war against Ukraine dragging on for the fourth year now, Kyiv is rethinking its strategy on how to keep close ties with the people who were forced to leave Ukraine and relocate abroad and how to motivate them to come back. Some 4.8 million Ukrainians have been granted temporary protection in Europe since Russia went on its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. What was initially planned as a three-year protection mechanism has just been extended for a total of five years, until March 2027. The longer people stay abroad, the harder it is to bring them back home, says Oleksiy Chernyshov, Ukraine's vice-prime minister who is now leading a newly-created ministry for national unity. Chernyshov is tasked with maintaining close ties with Ukrainians abroad and motivating them to return home, as they are becoming increasingly settled abroad. "The longer the war continues — the more integrated Ukrainians become in other countries," he told Euronews. 'That is why even during the war we want to keep ties with Ukrainians. We want to address and we want explain that everyone is equally important to Ukraine. We want your contribution, either it's material or even emotional," Chernyshov explained. "You should be integrated into Ukrainian life. You should think of Ukraine. Regardless of the fact that when you are considering your return, or if you are not considering it at all. It's important you're keeping your Ukrainian identity and Ukrainian agenda," he added, addressing his compatriots. Kyiv now hopes to rebuild its strategy with the so-called "Unity Hubs" that have been opened abroad. These multifunctional spaces will provide a variety of services to displaced or temporarily displaced Ukrainians, including legal, psychological, educational, cultural and support services to facilitate their integration into the European Union. However, they will also encourage them to voluntarily return to Ukraine once the peaceful conditions permit this to happen. The European Commission supported the initiative as it announced the extension of the temporary protection scheme. Chernyshov said it gives "more than 20 months of clarity for Ukrainians here in the European Union to plan their life." At the same time, Kyiv hopes the "Unity Hubs" initiative will also help the people plan for their future return to Ukraine. That, Chernyshov admitted, would first and foremost depend on the war. The Ukrainians didn't move looking for a better life, he reiterated: "They were escaping from the war and we should always remember that." Meanwhile, Ukrainians in Europe have been "a very strong asset to a labour market," Ukraine's vice-prime minister said. "They're professional, they're hardworking, they're intelligent, they're educated and obviously the labour markets will compete with each other," Chernyshov explained. There is no official data on how many Ukrainian refugees are working in Europe, and the situation varies from country to country. According to the joint report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the European Migration Network from May 2024, the beneficiaries of temporary protection (BoTP) integrated into the labour market more quickly than other refugee groups. At the beginning of 2023, the share of working-age BoTP in employment was already over 40% in a number of EU countries, including Estonia, Lithuania, Denmark and the Netherlands. Even higher employment levels were reported in Poland, exceeding 60%. While the number was lower than average in Germany (18%) and Switzerland (14%). After the first massive waves of relocation in 2022, most EU countries reported lower numbers of registrations. However, the number of BoTP employment continued to grow, reflecting an increased transition into employment. Having gained professional experience abroad, Kyiv hopes the Ukrainians will then implement it at home. Chernyshov said that economic development and the implementation of reforms will also pave the way for people to return home after the war is over. 'Once Ukraine rebuilds and develops its economy. European countries will come for the recovery. Who will they bring with them? Obviously, first of all, they will consider Ukrainians who are professionally integrated into Europe, and they will most probably offer them jobs in Ukraine," he pointed out. However, although economic growth and further development are undoubtedly important, stable peace remains the primary precondition for the return of the people, as well as for Ukraine's economic growth and prosperity. Brussels announced that the European Commission will appoint a special envoy for Ukrainians in the EU. This should help provide better information to Ukrainians about transitioning to a different legal status from temporary protection, and also pave the way for a gradual return and reintegration in Ukraine. Chernyshov says many Ukrainians want to return home, and they have already demonstrated this. After the Ukrainian army pushed Russian troops out of the Kyiv region, many rushed home as soon as they could. 'In March 2022 a lot of people returned to Kyiv and other cities, and it actually gives a great example," Chernyshov said, adding that many regularly go to Ukraine to visit their families and friends while temporarily being based abroad. In an unprecedented step, Kyiv established the Ministry of National Unity, trying to motivate them to come back more and one day come back to stay, and is now working on allowing dual and multiple citizenship. But what Kyiv cannot and will not do is force people to return, Chernyshov said. 'We cannot force anybody to come back. This is impossible'. 'The only motivation to go back to Ukraine is a successful Ukraine and your love for your homeland. These are the only two factors that make Ukrainians go back and consider this decision seriously. No forceful actions can be provided or will be provided. This is only peaceful motivation," he explained. Ukraine can do as much as it can to motivate the people with the administrative and economic incentives, but as long as Ukrainian cities are still being bombed and attacked, it is harder to convince people to come back. In this case, the decision to return home to Ukraine for many will depend not on Brussels or Kyiv, but on Moscow choosing whether to continue its war against Ukraine. US President Donald Trump has ordered an investigation into his predecessor Joe Biden's actions in office, accusing the former leader's aides of hiding his 'cognitive decline' from the public. In an executive order issued on Wednesday, Trump said the probe would assess whether 'certain individuals conspired to deceive the public about Biden's mental state and unconstitutionally exercise the authorities and responsibilities of the president'. The memo suggested, without providing evidence, that the unnamed officials may have taken advantage of Biden through the use of an autopen, the process by which presidents can give their approval to a document without physically signing it. In 2005, the US Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel said the autopen system — which Trump has himself used for routine correspondence — was a legitimate way for a president to validate official documents. The Trump administration's probe, which will be led by US Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House Counsel David Warrington, comes as an attempt to undermine the legitimacy of some of Biden's executive actions and pardons. Responding to Trump's claims, Biden, who recently announced that he is suffering from prostate cancer, said: 'Let me be clear: I made the decisions during my presidency. I made the decisions about the pardons, executive orders, legislation, and proclamations. Any suggestion that I didn't is ridiculous and false.' The former president added that his successor wanted to use his latest executive order as a 'distraction' tactic. 'This is nothing more than a distraction by Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans who are working to push disastrous legislation that would cut essential programs like Medicaid and raise costs on American families, all to pay for tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy and big corporations,' Biden said. Trump's investigation of the Biden administration marks an escalation in his targeting of political opponents. As part of their claims about Biden's presidency, Trump and his allies have sought to capitalise on a comment made in the book Original Sin by CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios' Alex Thompson. 'Five people were running the country, and Joe Biden was at best a senior member of the board,' the pair wrote. Those close to Biden have hit out at the book, with his granddaughter Naomi describing it as 'political fairy smut for the permanent, professional chattering class'. Biden withdrew from last year's presidential race after a disastrous debate with Trump, which led to increased scrutiny about his mental acuity.
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
EU plans would extend right for 4m Ukrainians to stay in bloc until 2027
The European Commission has said more than 4 million Ukrainians living in the EU should have their right to stay extended until March 2027, while calling for efforts to promote voluntary. Temporary protection status for Ukrainians who fled after Russia's full-scale invasion of February 2022 would be extended by one year until March 2027, under a European Commission proposal published on Wednesday. EU member states must approve the extension, which applies to 4.3 million Ukrainians, one-third of whom are children. While calling for the extension, the commission also urged EU governments to think beyond the temporary fix by making it easier for Ukrainians to obtain other types of residence permits, such as work and student visas. It said governments should set up programmes to promote voluntary returns to Ukraine, including by supporting exploratory visits. Magnus Brunner, the EU's internal affairs commissioner, stressed that all returns would be voluntary and that ending temporary protection status would be a decision taken with EU member states and Ukraine 'once we have a stable situation'. The proposals came as Ukraine's government outlined plans for 'unity hubs' – community centres which will offer its citizens information about returning home and integrating into their host societies. The first unity hub is due to open this summer in Berlin, with others planned in Prague and Alicante. Ukraine's deputy prime minister, Oleksiy Chernyshov, told reporters: 'We desperately need Ukrainians back home once the war is over. We need to develop the Ukrainian economy, we need to transform Ukraine into a prosperous economy and develop democracy.' Chernyshov said that if Ukraine were to attain the 'quite achievable' goal of doubling the size of its economy in the decade after the war it could need an additional 4 million people in the labour market. 'Only the strong economy can pave the way to the future success of Ukraine and successful integration into the European Union,' he added. The proposals follow inconclusive talks in Istanbul, where Russia and Ukraine agreed only on a prisoner exchange, while Moscow refuses to compromise on its maximalist war aims, which include the recognition of four Ukrainian regions it claims, but does not fully occupy. Chernyshov noted that 'the results we are getting with these talks are not the ones that could have been achieved'. He said a voluntary returns programme being developed with UN agencies the IOM and UNHCR, would answer questions facing every Ukrainian family now in Europe: 'How they will return back home? What are going to be the possibilities and proposals for their job? Where are they going to live, where are their kids going to go to school. What is the healthcare system proposal – and so on.' The commission is releasing €4bn to support Ukrainians in the EU, on top of €15bn allocated to member states since 2022. Sign up to This is Europe The most pressing stories and debates for Europeans – from identity to economics to the environment after newsletter promotion The EU activated its temporary protection directive for Ukrainians in March 2022, in an unprecedented gesture of support. That temporary status has been extended several times, but several EU governments have begun exploring other options. In the Czech Republic, Ukrainians earning at least 440,000 Czech crowns (£14,900, €17,700), with two years' residence, can now apply for a long-term residence permit. In Poland, Ukrainians who have had temporary protection for at least one year can apply for a three-year residence permit, although they would lose certain benefits such as free healthcare and a waiver on university tuition fees. Norway, which is outside the EU but operates a similar temporary protection scheme, announced last year it was tightening up rules, so Ukrainians from areas that are considered safe would be treated like any other asylum seeker and not automatically granted the right to stay. Support for Ukrainians in the EU remains high, but has ebbed since the early days of the invasion. By February 2024, 71% of people surveyed by Eurobarometer supported Ukrainian refugees, compared with 88% in the immediate aftermath of the invasion.
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
EU Commission proposes extending temporary protection for Ukrainians to March 2027
The European Commission proposed on Wednesday extending temporary protection for Ukrainians who have sought refuge in the European Union until March 2027, underlining the need for flexibility as Russia's war in Ukraine drags on. The Commission, the EU's executive body, also proposed steps to help displaced Ukrainians return home when the war eventually ends. EU figures show more than 4.25 million people who have fled Ukraine benefit from the bloc's Temporary Protection Directive, a measure to help cope with mass arrivals of displaced persons that was activated after Russia's 2022 invasion. The directive, which was due to expire in March 2026 and has already been extended three times, provides protection and benefits lasting for one to three years across the EU, including a residence permit, access to employment and social welfare. "The situation in Ukraine is, of course, still volatile, so we need to be flexible," EU internal affairs and migration commissioner Magnus Brunner told a press conference in Brussels alongside Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov. "This provides legal certainty for the EU member states, Brunner said, adding that it avoided overburdening national asylum systems. The directive, whose extension requires the approval of EU member states, was initially passed in 2001 after the Balkan wars of the 1990s but had not been used until 2022. The Commission recommended measures to ensure Ukrainians can return home smoothly when the fighting ends that included organising voluntary return programmes and providing beneficiaries with information and support. It also recommended member states start transitioning beneficiaries who want to stay in the EU to other legal statuses, for instance offering work permits and student visas. Many of the displaced Ukrainians are in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic, according the EU statistics office. Chernyshev said it was clear that some Ukrainians would hope to stay in the EU when the war ends but added: "I would like to state that we desperately need Ukrainians back home once the war is over." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Reuters
4 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
EU Commission proposes extending temporary protection for Ukrainians to March 2027
June 3 (Reuters) - The European Commission proposed on Wednesday extending temporary protection for Ukrainians who have sought refuge in the European Union until March 2027, underlining the need for flexibility as Russia's war in Ukraine drags on. The Commission, the EU's executive body, also proposed steps to help displaced Ukrainians return home when the war eventually ends. EU figures show more than 4.25 million people who have fled Ukraine benefit from the bloc's Temporary Protection Directive, a measure to help cope with mass arrivals of displaced persons that was activated after Russia's 2022 invasion. The directive, which was due to expire in March 2026 and has already been extended three times, provides protection and benefits lasting for one to three years across the EU, including a residence permit, access to employment and social welfare. "The situation in Ukraine is, of course, still volatile, so we need to be flexible," EU internal affairs and migration commissioner Magnus Brunner told a press conference in Brussels alongside Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov. "This provides legal certainty for the EU member states, Brunner said, adding that it avoided overburdening national asylum systems. The directive, whose extension requires the approval of EU member states, was initially passed in 2001 after the Balkan wars of the 1990s but had not been used until 2022. The Commission recommended measures to ensure Ukrainians can return home smoothly when the fighting ends that included organising voluntary return programmes and providing beneficiaries with information and support. It also recommended member states start transitioning beneficiaries who want to stay in the EU to other legal statuses, for instance offering work permits and student visas. Many of the displaced Ukrainians are in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic, according the EU statistics office. Chernyshev said it was clear that some Ukrainians would hope to stay in the EU when the war ends but added: "I would like to state that we desperately need Ukrainians back home once the war is over."
