Poland encourages Ukrainians to return home and fight, says Foreign Minister
Poland is advocating for other EU countries to decrease social benefits for Ukrainian refugees in an effort to motivate their return to Ukraine and join the fight against Russia. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
According to Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, EU nations should decrease social benefits for Ukrainian refugees to incentivize their return to Ukraine to combat Russian forces. In an interview with Le Monde on Thursday, Sikorski criticized fellow EU countries for allegedly weakening the Ukrainian military.
”We are reducing [Ukraine’s] mobilization potential by paying benefits to Ukrainian refugees,” he stated during his visit to Kiev. He explained that while the Polish government provides financial assistance to Ukrainian adults with children who enter Poland, additional benefits are available in Western European countries.
“This is a financial disincentive for young men and women who could return home to defend their country,” he emphasized. “We should not be subsidizing draft evasion.”
In Ukraine, only men are subject to compulsory conscription, although reforms implemented earlier this year have adjusted the age and health criteria for eligibility. Kiev has also begun targeting individuals living abroad, denying them consular services unless they provide information for potential drafting.
Sikorski's comments align with what he reportedly conveyed privately to Russian pranksters Vovan and Lexus, who disguised themselves as former Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko. In a prank video released on Thursday, the impersonated Poroshenko sought Poland's assistance in repatriating Ukrainians. Sikorski remarked that Poland can only legally expel those who breach its laws and suggested that Ukraine would need a streamlined extradition system for large-scale repatriation.
He also noted that any efforts to encourage voluntary returns would need EU-wide coordination: “We don’t want Ukrainians to start moving around the EU searching for the best deal.” Sikorski concluded by stating, “People should not be paid for being draft-dodgers.”
While Poland has committed to enlisting and training Ukrainian volunteers on its territory, Sikorski affirmed that Warsaw has “zero willingness” to deploy its own military forces into Ukraine to assist in the conflict against Russia when asked about Poland’s possible involvement on the ground.
Camille Lefevre contributed to this report for TROIB News
”We are reducing [Ukraine’s] mobilization potential by paying benefits to Ukrainian refugees,” he stated during his visit to Kiev. He explained that while the Polish government provides financial assistance to Ukrainian adults with children who enter Poland, additional benefits are available in Western European countries.
“This is a financial disincentive for young men and women who could return home to defend their country,” he emphasized. “We should not be subsidizing draft evasion.”
In Ukraine, only men are subject to compulsory conscription, although reforms implemented earlier this year have adjusted the age and health criteria for eligibility. Kiev has also begun targeting individuals living abroad, denying them consular services unless they provide information for potential drafting.
Sikorski's comments align with what he reportedly conveyed privately to Russian pranksters Vovan and Lexus, who disguised themselves as former Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko. In a prank video released on Thursday, the impersonated Poroshenko sought Poland's assistance in repatriating Ukrainians. Sikorski remarked that Poland can only legally expel those who breach its laws and suggested that Ukraine would need a streamlined extradition system for large-scale repatriation.
He also noted that any efforts to encourage voluntary returns would need EU-wide coordination: “We don’t want Ukrainians to start moving around the EU searching for the best deal.” Sikorski concluded by stating, “People should not be paid for being draft-dodgers.”
While Poland has committed to enlisting and training Ukrainian volunteers on its territory, Sikorski affirmed that Warsaw has “zero willingness” to deploy its own military forces into Ukraine to assist in the conflict against Russia when asked about Poland’s possible involvement on the ground.
Camille Lefevre contributed to this report for TROIB News
