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Merz urges young Ukrainian men to stay and serve in their country
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called on young Ukrainian men to remain in their homeland and contribute to the country’s war effort rather than seek refuge in Germany.
Speaking at a business summit in Berlin on Thursday, Merz said he had urged President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a phone conversation to prevent a growing number of young men from leaving Ukraine. “That is where they are needed,” he emphasized.
Merz also announced that his government will move forward with plans to reduce social benefits for Ukrainian refugees in order to encourage employment rather than reliance on welfare.
Under a new proposal drafted by the Labor Ministry, Ukrainians arriving after April 1, 2025 will receive support under the asylum-seekers law rather than Germany’s Bürgergeld system. The adjustment will lower monthly aid and, according to Merz, is intended to strengthen incentives to work.
The remarks come amid ongoing debates in Germany about migration, workforce shortages, and the responsibilities of Ukrainian nationals during the ongoing conflict.
