Events

Four years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, around 10 million people remain displaced, both externally and internally. As the war persists, uncertainty among displaced persons has grown, and the number of returnees has declined compared to two years ago. Overall, Ukrainian refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons are employing various coping strategies to navigate their precarious circumstances. The Council of the EU’s September 2025 Recommendation on a coordinated approach to transitioning out of temporary protection leaves critical decisions to individual member states without establishing uniform standards. The position of many EU host countries on adopting specific measures under this recommendation remains unclear to Ukrainian refugees, particularly regarding key factors such as security conditions and access to livelihoods in Ukraine. This legal uncertainty—especially the question of what will happen in March 2027—also affects Ukrainian refugees in the Republic of Moldova, which hosts their highest number per capita globally.  

The workshop aims to explore the return aspirations, challenges and policy dimensions related to displaced Ukrainians, including Roma refugees. It will bring together researchers, state authorities, representatives of the Ukrainian community, civil society and international partners to discuss pathways forward. 

With contributions by:

• Zeynep Şahin-Mencütek, bicc
• Inna Șupac, bicc
• Osman Bahadır Dinçer, bicc