German Chancellor Urges Zelensky to Keep Young Ukrainian Men from Seeking Refuge in Germany

Merz communicated with Zelensky via telephone today.

Germany:

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz revealed that during his Thursday conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, he requested a reduction in the number of young Ukrainian men seeking refuge in Germany.

Following their phone discussion, Merz stated: "I asked the Ukrainian president to ensure that young men from Ukraine specifically do not increasingly migrate to Germany, but instead serve their own nation.

"Their presence is required there."

Europe's largest economy has welcomed approximately one million Ukrainian refugees since Russia began its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Recently, Germany has experienced an influx of young Ukrainian males following Kyiv's decision to permit those between 18 and 22 years old to exit Ukraine, according to information provided by the interior ministry to AFP last month.

Ministry data indicated that the number of men in this age category seeking asylum in Germany had increased from just over 100 weekly to as many as 1,796 during the week beginning October 6.

Merz additionally announced that German social welfare regulations would soon undergo changes to reduce payments for Ukrainian refugees and "thereby provide greater incentives for employment."

"The benefits for these refugees will be restructured so that work incentives outweigh incentives to remain dependent on the welfare system," Merz explained at a Berlin business congress.

Ukraine had previously prohibited men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country following Russia's full-scale invasion, with only limited exceptions.

However, Kyiv relaxed these restrictions in August.