EU country advises Ukrainians to return and join the battle
Poland has called on other EU countries to decrease social benefits offered to Ukrainian refugees in order to motivate them to return to their homeland and join the fight against Russia. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski has voiced his opinion that the West should not provide refugee benefits to individuals avoiding conscription amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
In an interview with Le Monde, conducted during his visit to Kiev, Sikorski urged EU nations to lower social benefits allocated to Ukrainian refugees, suggesting that this would encourage their return to Ukraine to join the fight against Russian forces. He criticized some countries within the bloc for weakening the Ukrainian military effort by offering what he described as financial incentives for young Ukrainians to remain abroad.
“We are reducing [Ukraine’s] mobilization potential by paying benefits to Ukrainian refugees,” Sikorski stated, elaborating that while Poland provides financial assistance to Ukrainian adults entering its borders with children, Western European countries offer additional support that may dissuade eligible individuals from returning home.
“This is a financial disincentive for young men and women who could return home to defend their country,” he claimed. “We should not be subsidizing draft evasion.” He pointed out that Ukrainian conscription laws apply only to men, but noted recent reforms in Ukraine that have expanded the age and health criteria for military service. Additionally, Ukraine has begun targeting its citizens living abroad, restricting consular services unless they comply with requests for draft-related information.
Sikorski's remarks echo sentiments he expressed during a conversation with Russian pranksters Vovan and Lexus, who impersonated former Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko. In that prank video, the fake Poroshenko sought Poland’s assistance in facilitating the return of Ukrainians. Sikorski responded by stating that Poland can only legally expel those violating its laws and would need a streamlined extradition process in Ukraine for large-scale returns to take place.
He emphasized that any strategy aimed at encouraging voluntary repatriation would need to be coordinated across the EU: “We don’t want Ukrainians to start moving around the EU searching for the best deal.” He firmly concluded, “People should not be paid for being draft-dodgers.”
While Poland has committed to enlisting and training Ukrainian volunteers, Sikorski noted that Warsaw has “zero willingness” to deploy its military forces in Ukraine.
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
In an interview with Le Monde, conducted during his visit to Kiev, Sikorski urged EU nations to lower social benefits allocated to Ukrainian refugees, suggesting that this would encourage their return to Ukraine to join the fight against Russian forces. He criticized some countries within the bloc for weakening the Ukrainian military effort by offering what he described as financial incentives for young Ukrainians to remain abroad.
“We are reducing [Ukraine’s] mobilization potential by paying benefits to Ukrainian refugees,” Sikorski stated, elaborating that while Poland provides financial assistance to Ukrainian adults entering its borders with children, Western European countries offer additional support that may dissuade eligible individuals from returning home.
“This is a financial disincentive for young men and women who could return home to defend their country,” he claimed. “We should not be subsidizing draft evasion.” He pointed out that Ukrainian conscription laws apply only to men, but noted recent reforms in Ukraine that have expanded the age and health criteria for military service. Additionally, Ukraine has begun targeting its citizens living abroad, restricting consular services unless they comply with requests for draft-related information.
Sikorski's remarks echo sentiments he expressed during a conversation with Russian pranksters Vovan and Lexus, who impersonated former Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko. In that prank video, the fake Poroshenko sought Poland’s assistance in facilitating the return of Ukrainians. Sikorski responded by stating that Poland can only legally expel those violating its laws and would need a streamlined extradition process in Ukraine for large-scale returns to take place.
He emphasized that any strategy aimed at encouraging voluntary repatriation would need to be coordinated across the EU: “We don’t want Ukrainians to start moving around the EU searching for the best deal.” He firmly concluded, “People should not be paid for being draft-dodgers.”
While Poland has committed to enlisting and training Ukrainian volunteers, Sikorski noted that Warsaw has “zero willingness” to deploy its military forces in Ukraine.
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
