BRUSSELS (Reuters), – Senior EU officials and French officials stated that Ukraine is preparing for the grant of refugee status to Ukrainians in order to allow them to work and stay within the EU 27-nation bloc up to three years.

They estimate that at least 300,000.000 Ukrainians have already entered the EU. The bloc must prepare for many more. Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, all EU member countries, have borders that border Ukraine.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said Monday that it was their duty to accept those fleeing war. He also stated on France 2 TV that the EU interior minister had given Sunday’s task to the European Commission to prepare drafts to provide protection.

The details will be agreed upon by the ministers who meet on Thursday.

The EU temporary Protection Directive was established after the Balkans war of 1990s. However, it has not been utilized so far.

Ylva Johansson, EU Home Affairs Commissioner said that most ministers supported the move. However, there was some confusion about when it was appropriate to act or if waiting was better.

According to her, the problem affects all EU member states.

On Sunday, she said at a press conference that there was already a significant number of Ukrainians moving to countries where they were first admitted. Poland is one among them. But also Italy Portugal Spain Spain Germany and the Czech Republic.

Nancy Faeser, German Interior Minister, stated that all EU members are ready to receive refugees from Ukraine.

“This is Europe’s strong response to Putin’s criminal war of aggression. Together we stand with the Ukrainian people.”

Janez Lenarcic (European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management), stated that four million Ukrainians will flee their country to seek refuge based on U.N. estimates.

Men of military age are not allowed to leave Ukraine. This is why most women and children arrive at border with Slovakia, Hungary, Eastern Poland and Northern Romania.