This updated figure was shared by foreign affairs minister Jean Asselborn on RTL on 15 March. Over the weekend he ministeasked Luxembourg residents to not organise pickups of refugee groups at the borders of Ukraine at the moment, as the government was trying to set up infrastructures and procedures to shelter the refugees adequately.

For reference, during the height of the Syrian refugee crisis in 2015, 2,447 people arrived in Luxembourg over a 12-month period--a number reached in less than three weeks during this conflict.

, as asylum seeker facilities reach capacity. Many people granted international protection status are unable to find housing on the private market resulting in bottlenecks at the shelters. The national welcome office (ONA) plans to set up an extra six facilities with 466 beds.

The government has called on municipalities across the country to help make spaces available to set up temporary shelters. Contern, for example, has freed up its cultural centre in Moutfort to welcome refugees. for refugees too.

By the end of Tuesday, Asselborn said that the number of demands had increased from 2,500 to nearly 3,000. 

Bettel speaks with Zelensky 

Following a call with Russian president Vladimir Putin on 14 March, Luxembourg’s prime minister Xavier Bettel has also spoken with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.

Conducted at the request of Zelensky, both heads of government agreed that a ceasefire should be implemented as soon as possible, and to keep humanitarian routes open to allow refugees fleeing the armed conflict to escape. , Bettel had addressed the topic of these corridors, and told him that everything should be done to ensure the safe travel of those fleeing the conflict zones. 

During his call with Luxembourg’s PM, Zelenksy also reiterated his wish to continue negotiations directly with Putin.