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Merz Asks Zelensky to 'Ensure' Fewer Young Ukrainian Men Come to Germany
Germany plans to reduce benefits for about 490,000 working-age Ukrainian refugees to encourage employment and limit arrivals of young men amid ongoing political pressure.
- On Nov. 13, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fewer young Ukrainian men should come to Germany, urging they `serve in their own country` because `They are needed there.`
- Kyiv eased travel rules in August, allowing men aged between 18 and 22 to leave, and German Interior Ministry data show registrations rose from 100 a week to almost 1,000 after the change.
- Facing political pressure, Germany's ruling coalition is preparing a bill to cut benefits for Ukrainians arriving after April 1, while around 490,000 Ukrainians of working age receive unemployment benefits, a point raised by Alternative for Germany.
- Close to 1.3 million Ukrainian refugees have been recorded in Germany as of October 2025, and Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, said he briefed Merz on the front and thanked Germany for military and political support.
- Ministry figures for the week starting Oct 6 indicate registrations of men aged 18–22 spiked to 1,796 amid Kyiv's manpower shortage on the front and Russia's offensive operations.
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mannheim24.deReposted by 
op-online.de
op-online.deMerz lies in the conflict with Selenskyj, after the relaxation of the war rules led to an influx of men in need of defense.
Merz says young Ukrainian men should serve their country rather than come to Germany
German Chancellor says he told Ukrainian president that young Ukrainian men should not seek refuge in Germany and announces plans to cut social benefits for Ukrainian refugees - Anadolu Ajansı
·Ankara, Türkiye
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Total News Sources39
Leaning Left10Leaning Right10Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution40% Left, 40% Right
Bias Distribution
- 40% of the sources lean Left, 40% of the sources lean Right
40% Right
L 40%
C 20%
R 40%
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