Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz has requested Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to curb the flow of young Ukrainian men arriving as refugees in Germany. In a phone call, Merz urged Zelensky to ensure that the influx of young men from Ukraine does not continue to rise, but rather that they serve their country instead.
Since Russia's invasion began in February 2022, Germany has taken in over a million Ukrainian refugees. More recently, an increase in young Ukrainian men aged 18-22 seeking refuge in Germany has been observed, with numbers surging from around 100 per week to as high as 1,796 in the week starting October 6.
To address this issue, Merz announced that German social welfare rules will be modified to lower payments for Ukrainian refugees. The revised system aims to encourage employment among these refugees, thereby reducing reliance on the welfare system.
Merz emphasized that the incentives for working should outweigh the incentive to remain in the welfare system. This change is aimed at promoting a more balanced approach to supporting Ukrainian refugees while also ensuring their integration into German society through employment opportunities.
The recent decision by Kyiv to lift its ban on men aged 18-60 leaving the country has led to an increase in young Ukrainian men seeking refuge in Germany. However, this move was made after Russia's full-scale invasion, and Ukraine had initially prohibited any male citizens between the ages of 18 and 60 from leaving the country with limited exceptions.
With the new social welfare rules set to come into effect, it remains to be seen how effective they will be in curbing the influx of young Ukrainian men arriving in Germany.
Since Russia's invasion began in February 2022, Germany has taken in over a million Ukrainian refugees. More recently, an increase in young Ukrainian men aged 18-22 seeking refuge in Germany has been observed, with numbers surging from around 100 per week to as high as 1,796 in the week starting October 6.
To address this issue, Merz announced that German social welfare rules will be modified to lower payments for Ukrainian refugees. The revised system aims to encourage employment among these refugees, thereby reducing reliance on the welfare system.
Merz emphasized that the incentives for working should outweigh the incentive to remain in the welfare system. This change is aimed at promoting a more balanced approach to supporting Ukrainian refugees while also ensuring their integration into German society through employment opportunities.
The recent decision by Kyiv to lift its ban on men aged 18-60 leaving the country has led to an increase in young Ukrainian men seeking refuge in Germany. However, this move was made after Russia's full-scale invasion, and Ukraine had initially prohibited any male citizens between the ages of 18 and 60 from leaving the country with limited exceptions.
With the new social welfare rules set to come into effect, it remains to be seen how effective they will be in curbing the influx of young Ukrainian men arriving in Germany.
But, I'm not sure if lowering social welfare payments will really make a difference. What about the fact that these guys have been through trauma and displacement? They might need some extra support to find stable work. Not to mention, Germany's economy could use some of those young workers now 
I feel like this is gonna have some serious consequences on these guys... I mean, who's gonna help 'em find jobs? The thing is, we can't just ignore that Ukraine has been through hell and these kids are trying to escape the war. It's not like they're just taking up space or something. What's gonna happen when Germany needs people working in the fields or somethin'? Are we just gonna turn our backs on 'em? I don't know, man... it feels like we're bein' a bit too harsh 
u gotta feel 4 these young Ukrainian guys rn 
lowering welfare payments might not b enuf 2 curb the flow tho 
what if ppl r tryna escape war & violence? 
like, r we really prioritizin employment over human lives? 
So I'm thinking, what's the hurry? These young Ukrainians are fleeing war and persecution, and now Germany is trying to get them to work? I mean, can't they just have a break or something? The system sounds like it's all about pushing them back out into the workforce without really considering their mental health or trauma. What if these guys aren't ready for that yet?
. But, gotta think about the economic impact too 
. One million refugees already, and it's gonna cost Germany a pretty penny 
. Lowering welfare payments might be a good idea, but it's also possible some folks won't take the offer 
. Hope they can find a solution that works for everyone 
meanwhile, germany's economy is literally booming thanks to all the refugees. what's wrong with people wanting to leave their war-torn country and start fresh in germany? isn't that kinda the point of being a refugee? 
i think its super cool that germany is stepping up to support them, but at the same time i get why chancellor merz would want to encourage them to go back to ukraine and serve their country 
these social welfare rule changes might just be the nudge they need to stay motivated and find jobs 
fingers crossed it all works out for everyone involved 
. It feels like they're being sent back into the war zone or something.
. I mean, what's the incentive there? It feels like the German government is just throwing a bone at Ukraine to keep things "balanced" instead of actually helping these guys integrate into their new lives.
. Can't we just try to help people in need without making them feel like they're some kind of pawn?
It feels like they're being sent back into harm's way. And what about the kids who are still stuck in Ukraine or those who've lost loved ones? 