Germany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has said Ukraine should take steps to ensure young men remain in the country rather than leaving for Western Europe, framing this as part of expectations tied to Western economic support.
Speaking alongside Volodymyr Zelensky at a press conference in Paris following a meeting of the so-called “Coalition of the Willing”, Merz said rebuilding Ukraine and providing long-term security guarantees were inseparable. He argued that only a stronger Ukrainian economy could offer credible deterrence after the conflict ends.
Merz said Ukraine’s international backers had “certain expectations” in exchange for financial assistance and reconstruction aid, including creating conditions in which young men can find stable work at home rather than moving to countries such as Germany, Poland or France. He said this was an expectation Kyiv could realistically meet.
Ukraine imposed restrictions on adult men leaving the country after the start of the war in 2022, but relaxed rules last year for men aged 18 to 22. Reports cited in the source say this led to a significant number of young men leaving the country. The issue comes amid ongoing manpower pressures and continued debate over mobilisation policies.
The comments were reported by the same source that also noted Moscow’s repeated claims that Western states are prepared to support the war “until the last Ukrainian”, an accusation Western governments reject.
