Europe has begun to welcome refugees from Ukraine

 Train of refugees arriving from Ukraine arrives at Poland's Prezimassel railway station, February 26, 2022 / Photo AP

Thousands of Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion are entering Eastern Europe. Experts estimate that between one and five million people could enter the EU in the coming weeks. Countries like Poland have reopened their borders, which had previously been closed to other refugees.

Many Ukrainians are crossing the border in search of safety by any means of transportation. This group of refugees is coming to Poland by train.

Others wait hours or hours to reach the borders of Poland, Romania and Slovakia by car or on foot. Citizens of Ukraine between the ages of 18 and 60 are not allowed to leave because they have to stay in the country to protect their motherland.

European Commission President Arsula Von der Leyen explained the EU's plan to help refugees in Ukraine, and said that refugees and internally displaced people would be assisted through their humanitarian aid office, Echo.

The European Union hopes that as few Ukrainians as possible will seek political asylum, but he said Europe was ready to welcome them.

Among the eastern countries, although Poland and Hungary were reluctant to accept refugees, Hungary even built fences along the border. Poland began building a border wall earlier this year to stem a new wave of refugees from Belarus to the Middle East.

But this time they are welcoming them differently. Poland has opened reception centers along its 500-kilometer-long border with Ukraine.

Refugee rights groups have welcomed the opening of the border, but also expressed concern about the discriminatory treatment of asylum seekers.