The French government has said it will suspend expulsions of foreign students fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a sensitive issue that has seen European countries accused of racist double standards.

“We have introduced a moratorium for students until September,” a government source siad.

This means “no requirement to leave French territory will be applied or any new ones decided on until the new university year”, Joseph Zimet, a senior official in charge of hosting Ukrainian refugees, had earlier said.

New arrivals would have to comply with “the same criteria as students who request a visa in France” regarding their study plans and financial resources, he added.

Including students, some 3,500 third-country citizens who fled Ukraine are presently under temporary protection in France.