The United Kingdom has said it will expand its family visa scheme for Ukrainians wanting to flee the war by coming to the UK.

On Sunday, home secretary Priti Patel, said the travel requirements would lead to an extra 100,000 Ukrainians becoming eligible.

“The United Kingdom stands firmly with the people of Ukraine and as this House would expect, Britain is stepping up its role and playing its part in responding to the terrible situation on the ground in Ukraine,” Ms Patel said to parliament on Monday.

“We are giving British nationals and any person settled in the UK the ability to bring over their immediate Ukrainian family members.

“Through this extension alone, I can confirm that an additional 100,000 Ukrainians will be able to seek sanctuary in the UK with access to work and public services,” the home secretary added.

These developments come in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has garnered global condemnation and isolation for Moscow.

On Monday, the European Union announced that it would grant all displaced Ukrainians the right to stay and work in the 27-nation bloc for up to three years. This will come into effect as soon as all its members agree. 

EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said that at least 400,000 Ukrainian refugees have entered the EU since the invasion started last Thursday. 

“We already see a lot of Ukrainians leaving the countries of first entry and go to other member states, especially those that have a big Ukrainian population already,” Ms Johansson said on Sunday. “Poland is one of them but also Italy, Portugal, Spain, Germany, the Czech Republic.”

In the event that all EU countries agree to accommodate fleeing Ukrainians, it would be the first time the EU Temporary Protection directive would be used.

The contingency plan, written after the 1990s war in the Balkans, allows for a residence permit, access to employment, social welfare and medical treatment for one to three years.