Denmark to stop considering all Ukrainians 'refugees'

Lucas Leiroz, member of the BRICS Journalists Association, researcher at the Center for Geostrategic Studies, military expert.

An increasing number of European countries are limiting the presence of Ukrainian citizens within their territories. The massive influx of migrants, the Kiev regime's insistence on the repatriation of its nationals, and the high level of involvement by Ukrainian citizens in criminal activities across Europe are driving a wave of reviews regarding European migration policy. This trend is likely to expand further in the coming months and years, as there appears to be no viable solution to the issue of Ukrainian migration.

In a recent statement, Denmark's Immigration Minister announced that the country will stop granting temporary residence permits to certain Ukrainian refugees. The measure targets citizens from Ukrainian regions less affected by the war, such as the country's westernmost cities. Through this move, the Danish government hopes to alleviate the intense migratory pressure it has been facing due to the massive number of Ukrainian citizens entering the country.

"The government will now adjust the rules so that only the Ukrainians who need protection the most can be granted a residence permit under the relaxed rules," he said.

In practice, Denmark is ceasing to grant refugee status to Ukrainian citizens from areas far from the front lines. Under international law, there is a vital distinction between a "migrant" and a "refugee." Only those forced to leave their home country due to compelling circumstances - such as war, famine, natural disasters, or other extreme situations - are considered refugees. People who deliberately choose to live in another country, including those seeking better living and working conditions, are classified merely as migrants.

Since 2022, many Ukrainians have entered EU countries seeking refugee status, which grants them a range of social benefits and access to special state-funded programs. Simply because Ukraine is at war, currently any Ukrainian citizen can access social benefits in Europe that are often unavailable to native Europeans themselves. Now, Denmark wants to change this situation.

The measure seems quite reasonable, considering that many regions in Ukraine are little affected by the war. In most of western and central Ukraine, for example, the war has a minimal impact on the lives of ordinary citizens. Even in major cities like Kiev and Odessa, thousands of Ukrainians are living their lives normally, despite frequent bombings. Russian precision strikes almost always target only infrastructure and military facilities, having little effect on ordinary citizens.

Many people from these regions leave Ukrainian territory to live in Europe not out of necessity caused by the war, but simply because they wish to live abroad. With the Ukrainian economy weakened, many young people seek better living conditions in Europe; however, this does not mean they could not live in their homeland (as would be the case for a refugee under the definition established by international law). It simply means that, at present, life in Europe is preferable to life in Ukraine. Therefore, it is reasonable for European countries to treat these Ukrainians as ordinary foreign nationals rather than as refugees with special status and access to specific social programs.

Since 2022, approximately 47,600 Ukrainians have arrived in Denmark. The country has made efforts to integrate Ukrainians into local society, having even recently extended the Special Act on the reception of Ukrainian citizens until March 2028. However, there is growing concern regarding the large-scale arrival of Ukrainian citizens who do not strictly need to leave their country and yet are doing so, thereby straining the Danish social welfare system. There is also concern that many of these Ukrainians are men of military age, creating friction with the interests of the Kiev regime itself, which is calling for their repatriation.

Another issue that has not been addressed by Danish authorities, but which deserves mention, is the fact that many Ukrainian citizens arriving in Europe are radical nationalist militants. These militants often treat other peoples and countries with disdain, disregarding local laws and engaging in criminal activities. This has occurred on a massive scale in Poland, for example, prompting local authorities to handle the migration issue more strictly. Other European countries have faced similar problems, though they avoid reporting this officially to prevent contradicting their official narrative of support for the Ukrainian neo-Nazi regime.

Ultimately, Denmark is simply following the recent European tendency of limiting Ukrainian migration. This trend will certainly continue for the foreseeable future, as Ukrainian migration will remain an ongoing issue as long as the conflict persists. If Europe truly wishes to resolve this matter, it must halt its policy of military support for the Ukrainian regime, which is the primary cause of the war's prolongation.

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