The German Chancellor pressures Kyiv: "Stop the flow of youth to Germany"
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to limit the increasing number of young Ukrainians arriving in Germany, sparking widespread debate about immigration and responsibilities in wartime.
During a phone call last week, Merz asked Zelensky to ensure that the number of young people heading to Germany does not increase, emphasizing that they are needed in their homeland as the Russian invasion continues. His statements align with rising pressure from the CDU and CSU parties, which are demanding Kyiv reduce the movement of men of conscription age towards Europe.
The calls intensified after Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder urged both the European Union and Berlin to pressure Ukraine to "reduce the flow" of young people fleeing the war. The Secretary-General of the CDU, Carsten Linnemann, also supported these demands. The debate escalated after Kyiv allowed men aged 18 to 22 to leave the country for the first time last August, increasing the number of arrivals in Germany from 19 weekly to as many as 1,800 by late October.
Some German politicians have taken a more cautious stance. Ralph Stegner, a member of the Social Democratic Party, stated that asking Ukrainian youth to fight is a complex moral issue, emphasizing that ending the war is more important than focusing on the number of refugees. Currently, more than 1.2 million Ukrainian refugees live in Germany, putting increasing pressure on the German immigration system.
Analysts like Stefan Meister believe that Merz is responding to internal political pressures and legal constraints, as Ukraine still enjoys visa-free travel to the European Union, in addition to the temporary protection extended until 2027. Financial assistance for incoming Ukrainians will also decrease after April 2025 from about 560 euros to around 440 euros per month.
On the other hand, observers like Winfried Schneider-Dieters confirm that Ukraine needs its youth to fight now and to rebuild later. However, they doubt Kyiv's response to German demands, considering that the decision will be unpopular. Activist Irina Shulikina in Berlin sees that many of these young people are still students and have lived through years of war, stating that pressuring them is "wrong and contrary to fairness."
Studies show that some Ukrainians intend to return to their country, but the majority do not plan to do so. The ifo Institute revealed that 59% of the early refugees and 69% of those who arrived later do not wish to return. Estimates indicate that only between 300,000 and 400,000 of the Ukrainians who came to Germany since 2022 have returned to their country or moved to another country, posing a long-term challenge for decision-makers in Berlin.