**No Decision Yet on Revoking Legal Status of Ukrainian Refugees in US, Trump Says**
The White House has not made a decision yet regarding the legal status of 240,000 Ukrainian refugees currently living in the United States.
US President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he had not made a decision on revoking the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) of these Ukrainians. This means they could still be deported.
Trump said his administration did not want to hurt refugees from Ukraine, and that he would make a decision “pretty soon.” He claimed that some people think it is appropriate to revoke TPS, while others do not.
The plan to revoke TPS was reported by Reuters earlier in the day. According to sources, this plan predates Trump’s public argument with President Volodymyr Zelensky on February 28 and is part of a broader crackdown on people staying in the US on humanitarian grounds.
**Previous Protections Suspended**
Just days after returning to the White House, Trump began rolling back protections for Ukrainian refugees. In late January, his administration suspended the Uniting for Ukraine program, which allowed Ukrainians to stay in the US for up to two years and granted them the right to work and receive health insurance.
Over 6 million Ukrainian citizens fled their homes after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Around 5.2 million remain abroad, with the vast majority receiving protection in EU countries.
**Zelensky Reacts**
President Volodymyr Zelensky reacted to Trump’s comments by saying that the US and Ukraine have resumed cooperation. Delegations will meet for talks next week.
The White House has come under scrutiny for its treatment of Ukraine, a longstanding ally, in contrast to its increasing warmth towards Russia. In recent days, the White House has frozen all military aid shipments and stopped intelligence sharing with Kyiv.
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