German Chancellor Merz has called on Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to reduce the number of Ukrainian young men entering Germany, stating that Ukraine needs these young people to serve their country. However, EU law allows Ukrainians to enter without a visa, and the debate has intensified.

Since late August, the Kyiv government has allowed young men aged 18 to 22 to leave Ukraine. Previously, although they were not required to serve in the military, they were banned from leaving the country. According to statistics from the German Federal Ministry of the Interior, the number of people in this age group entering Germany per week increased from 19 in mid-August to 1,400 to 1,800 by the end of October. Currently, more than 1.2 million Ukrainian refugees are living in Germany.

Against this backdrop, German Chancellor Merz (Friedrich Merz, also known as "Merk") recently called for a reduction in the number of Ukrainian young men coming to Germany. During a call with Zelenskyy last Thursday, Merz asked the Ukrainian president to ensure that more and more young men from Ukraine do not go to Germany. Merz also stated in Berlin that these young men should serve their homeland: "They are needed there."

This is also the position of Merz's Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU). Bavaria's Prime Minister and CSU Chairman Söder (Markus Söder) had previously expressed a similar view, calling on the EU and the German government to pressure Kyiv to "control and significantly reduce" the number of young men fleeing the war and arriving in Germany. CDU Secretary Linnemann (Carsten Linnemann) also expressed a similar opinion.

However, the CDU/CSU's coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), seems to have a different opinion. So far, the SPD has not made an explicit statement on this issue. SPD member of the German Bundestag Stegner (Ralf Stegner) told Deutsche Welle that he found it difficult to accept Merz's proposal that Ukrainian youth should be conscripted. "The most important thing is that we all contribute to ending the war as soon as possible. In my view, this is more important than focusing on migration issues..."

Political scientist Dr. Meister from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (DGAP) said that Merz's call to Zelenskyy is also related to the fact that Germany can hardly restrict the entry of Ukrainians. Image source: Zsofia Pölöske/DGAP

Public discussion is not only about Ukrainians

Stefan Meister from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (DGAP) said that Merz's call to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy was not only due to concerns that the young people urgently needed by Ukraine are leaving their country, but also because the German government is trying to limit immigration into Germany, and Merz is concerned about fulfilling his campaign promises.

Meister also pointed out that this is not just about Ukrainians, but part of a broader discussion in Germany about refugees and immigration. Meister noted that Germany has received over one million Ukrainians, and such numbers "do indeed put some pressure on the German social system." The political scientist also pointed out that the right-wing populist party Alternative for Germany (AfD) is using this debate to pressure the CDU.

Some experts have interpreted the current social welfare reforms as a signal to potential AfD voters. According to the reform plan, Ukrainian refugees who arrive in Germany from April 1, 2025, will no longer be eligible for "Bürgergeld" (the German basic security allowance), and their benefits will be adjusted to the same level as those for asylum seekers (a monthly reduction of 120 euros for single individuals).

"Germany can hardly restrict the entry of Ukrainians"

Political scientist and Ukraine expert Deters (Winfried Schneider-Deters) agrees with Merz's appeal, saying, "It is surprising that the German chancellor has to remind the Ukrainian president that Ukraine needs these young people."

Political scientist Meister pointed out that Merz's call to Zelenskyy is also related to the fact that Germany can hardly restrict the entry of Ukrainians. Ukrainians have the right to stay in the EU for 90 days without a visa each year. Moreover, after Russia's invasion, Europe granted all Ukrainians temporary protection, including work permits.

Zelenskyy has not yet commented on this matter. "This would be a very unpopular decision in Ukraine," said Meister. The DGAP expert advocates that Europe and Germany should provide more weapons to Ukraine to help its army.

What do Ukrainians in Germany think?

Iryna Schulikina, director of the Ukrainian NGO "Vitsche" based in Berlin, told Deutsche Welle: "Ukraine needs people and weapons. It is crucial that European countries, including Germany, stop funding Russia's war by buying oil and gas."

When talking about Merz's latest call, Schulikina said: "We need to clarify who we are talking about. In Germany, young people aged 18 to 22 have just graduated from high school, and their parents usually still pay for their health insurance, and they are still receiving child benefits. Why should these young people suddenly not be considered children just because they come from Ukraine? Their lives have been shaped by an 11-year war, with the past four years being due to Russia's full-scale invasion."

This activist refuted the idea that Ukrainian youth will remain abroad forever: "That is propaganda. Many are returning, many plan to return, and many are studying to serve their homeland in the future..."

However, political scholar Deters, who lives both in Germany and Ukraine, is skeptical. He does not believe that most Ukrainian youth will return home after the war.

Many Ukrainians want to stay in Germany

Surveys show that half of the Ukrainian refugees are willing to return to Ukraine — but only if certain conditions are met, such as restoring the borders from 1991, obtaining security through NATO membership, and the prospect of joining the EU. This conclusion was drawn by a study conducted by the Munich Ifo Institute for Economic Research in October 2025, which surveyed Ukrainians in 30 European countries.

A higher proportion of Ukrainians want to stay in Germany. A 2023/2024 study commissioned by the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) showed that 59% of those who fled Ukraine at the beginning of the war are willing to stay in Germany; 69% of those who arrived later in Germany said they have no intention of returning to Ukraine. There are currently no statistics on the number of Ukrainians who have returned to Ukraine. It is estimated that between 300,000 and 400,000 Ukrainians who came to Germany since 2022 have returned to Ukraine or moved to other countries.

Source: DW

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7576043436416811555/

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