Germany Urges Ukraine to Halt Youth Migration to Europe’s Largest Economy

According to Rokna, citing reputable outlets, the German chancellor, whose government is under mounting financial pressure, asked the Ukrainian president to curb the exodus of young people to Germany and persuade them to stay and fight Russia.

In a telephone call with President Zelensky, Chancellor Friedrich Merz requested that Kyiv take steps to stop young Ukrainians from entering Germany, saying they are “needed in Ukraine.”
Merz stated: “During today’s extensive discussion, I asked the president of Ukraine to halt the sharply rising influx of young people into Germany. Their presence is essential in Ukraine.”

Merz’s coalition, facing increasing fiscal strain and seeking to reduce welfare expenditures, is working on a draft law that would limit access to social benefits for Ukrainians and encourage them to seek employment.

Germany is one of Ukraine’s main supporters within the European Union. Since 2022, it has accepted more than 1.2 million Ukrainian refugees and remains Kyiv’s second-largest provider of military assistance after the United States. According to German media reports, following the easing of Ukraine’s exit rules over the summer, the number of Ukrainian men aged 18 to 22 entering Germany surged from 19 per week in mid-August to between 1,400 and 1,800 per week in October.

German officials say the increasing perception that “young Ukrainians are fleeing to Germany to avoid conscription and the war” is eroding public support for Kyiv in its conflict with Russia and providing ammunition for right-wing parties to attack the government over its Ukraine policy.