German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has requested Ukraine not to allow young men to leave, following a wave of refugees in Germany.

In a press conference, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to restrict the departure of young men from Ukraine, after a recent decision by Kiev allowed their exit between the ages of 18 and 22, generating a wave of refugees in Germany. Merz emphasized the importance of young people fulfilling their duty in their country instead of emigrating.

He also announced that social assistance for Ukrainian refugees will be reduced to encourage integration into the workforce, with the measure set to apply only to those arriving after April 1, 2025. This change could save approximately 730 million euros for the German budget. In Ukraine, men beyond military service age have had restrictions on leaving the country, but recently, the ban for young people between 18 and 22 years old was lifted, leading to an increase in the number of refugees.