Germany is discussing the possibility of terminating social assistance for Ukrainian men of military age. This initiative was put forward by foreign policy expert Stefan Mayer, who calls for a reconsideration of the approach to more than 150,000 men who currently receive financial support.
According to BILD, Mayer believes that men aged 18 to 63 who fled the war should either join the labor market in Germany or return to Ukraine to serve. He emphasizes that the situation when almost half of Ukrainians of military age are dependent on the German state is unfair.
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According to official statistics, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, more than 300,000 men from Ukraine have arrived in Germany, and almost 151,000 of them receive social benefits.
In response to this statement, the Ukrainian embassy in Germany emphasized that the men’s stay abroad does not contradict Ukrainian law. Diplomats emphasized that to leave the country, they need to have the appropriate documents, and many men in Germany are registered with the military authorities of Ukraine.
The issue of social protection of Ukrainians abroad is increasingly becoming a topic of political discussion in the EU. At the same time, it remains a sensitive issue in the context of both Ukraine’s domestic policy and international support.
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