German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has appealed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to ensure that fewer young Ukrainian men come to Germany. He made the announcement during a telephone conversation with the Ukrainian president, reports Barron’s.
“I asked the President of Ukraine to ensure that young men from Ukraine, in particular, do not come to Germany in increasing numbers, but serve in their own country. They are needed there.”, — the Chancellor noted.
Merz also said that Germany will soon change social security rules, reducing payments to Ukrainian refugees. In his opinion, this should further motivate Ukrainians to look for work.
As a reminder, on August 12, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the government, together with the military command, would work to simplify border crossing for Ukrainian men under the age of 22. He called this initiative “a positive and correct story” that will allow young Ukrainians to maintain a connection with the country and realize themselves in their studies.
On August 26, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced that the Cabinet of Ministers had updated the rules for crossing the state border. Now, men aged 18–22 can freely leave Ukraine during martial law. This applies to all citizens of the corresponding age category.
