Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna refutes information disseminated by some media that Kyiv is working with Brussels on the return of Ukrainians who are temporarily on the territory of European Union member states under the EU temporary protection mechanism.

"It is definitely not a direct position of Ukraine that Ukrainians should return back, and therefore any assistance to them (EU) should be reduced. This is absolutely not the case. Our principled position is that citizens of Ukraine who are in the European Union should have the right to temporary protection," she said in Brussels on Thursday, commenting on relevant information at the request of journalists.

The Deputy Prime Minister expressed confidence that "the opportunity to have temporary protection should remain in any conditions, both in 2025 and after it, and even in the event of a cessation of hostilities." "This possibility must remain. Another issue is financial payments. Unfortunately, the war continues. We must be determined in relation to the social guarantees that citizens have in each country. But this is not radical communication, not negative. This dialogue (Ukraine and the EU) continues," Stefanishyna said.