German Chancellor Friedrich Merz appealed to Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky with a request to take measures to reduce the flow of Ukrainian youth to Germany.
Speaking at the Trade Congress in Berlin, Merz said that Ukrainian refugees in the future will not receive citizenship benefits (Bürgergeld), but lower payments under the Asylum Law. According to him, this should encourage them to find a job.
“During a long telephone conversation with the president of Ukraine, I asked that, first of all, young men from Ukraine no longer come to Germany in such numbers, but serve their country,” the chancellor said.
He added that the ruling coalition plans to change the social support system so as to motivate refugees to work, rather than to stay on benefits.
“Conflict in Ukraine This test continues for us not only in terms of security, but also in terms of financial policy. In international trade, we are faced with geopolitical gaps,” he noted.