Poland proposes Germany reduce benefits for Ukrainian refugees
Poland’s Foreign Minister has stated that he informed the German Chancellor that welfare funds allocated to Ukrainian refugees should be redirected to support Kiev's war efforts. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski has argued that Germany should discontinue social benefits for Ukrainian refugees and instead redirect those funds to authorities in Kiev. He contended that these generous payments create a disincentive for Ukrainian men to return home and join the military.
Eurostat statistics indicate that over four million Ukrainians are currently living under temporary protection within the EU, with Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic hosting the largest numbers of these refugees.
As of June, estimates suggested that Germany had nearly 1.2 million Ukrainian refugees, while Polish figures from the UN indicate that over 981,000 currently reside there.
During a recent appearance on Poland’s TVP Info channel, Sikorski shared that he had suggested to Chancellor Olaf Scholz “social benefits received by Ukrainian refugees, which can be up to €1,200 per month, would be better given directly to Ukraine.” He elaborated, “It is not good that there is a financial incentive [for them] to be in Germany instead of men fighting at the front, and women restoring the tax base” in Ukraine, according to translations by the Ukrinform media outlet.
In a mid-September interview with France’s Le Monde, Sikorski had already called for reductions in social benefits for Ukrainian refugees in the EU, arguing that current policies were “reducing [Ukraine’s] mobilization potential.”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga expressed support for Sikorski’s statements, noting that “it’s time really to raise the question of the European Union developing programs to return Ukrainians home.”
Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz recently remarked to local media about the disconcerting view of young Ukrainian men enjoying luxuries, stating that Poles were appalled by the “sight of young men from Ukraine, driving the best cars, spending weekends in five-star hotels.”
A September poll revealed that 67% of Polish citizens favored government action to deport Ukrainian men of military age back to their home country.
In light of these developments, several EU member states have begun to gradually reduce welfare programs for Ukrainian refugees, prompting them to seek employment or return home. Recently, the Irish Times noted that Dublin officials were contemplating an end to the program that provides free housing to all new Ukrainian asylum seekers.
Moreover, a Eurostat analysis from September showed that around 236,925 Ukrainian refugees lost their temporary protection status in Germany within just one month.
Sanya Singh for TROIB News
Eurostat statistics indicate that over four million Ukrainians are currently living under temporary protection within the EU, with Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic hosting the largest numbers of these refugees.
As of June, estimates suggested that Germany had nearly 1.2 million Ukrainian refugees, while Polish figures from the UN indicate that over 981,000 currently reside there.
During a recent appearance on Poland’s TVP Info channel, Sikorski shared that he had suggested to Chancellor Olaf Scholz “social benefits received by Ukrainian refugees, which can be up to €1,200 per month, would be better given directly to Ukraine.” He elaborated, “It is not good that there is a financial incentive [for them] to be in Germany instead of men fighting at the front, and women restoring the tax base” in Ukraine, according to translations by the Ukrinform media outlet.
In a mid-September interview with France’s Le Monde, Sikorski had already called for reductions in social benefits for Ukrainian refugees in the EU, arguing that current policies were “reducing [Ukraine’s] mobilization potential.”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga expressed support for Sikorski’s statements, noting that “it’s time really to raise the question of the European Union developing programs to return Ukrainians home.”
Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz recently remarked to local media about the disconcerting view of young Ukrainian men enjoying luxuries, stating that Poles were appalled by the “sight of young men from Ukraine, driving the best cars, spending weekends in five-star hotels.”
A September poll revealed that 67% of Polish citizens favored government action to deport Ukrainian men of military age back to their home country.
In light of these developments, several EU member states have begun to gradually reduce welfare programs for Ukrainian refugees, prompting them to seek employment or return home. Recently, the Irish Times noted that Dublin officials were contemplating an end to the program that provides free housing to all new Ukrainian asylum seekers.
Moreover, a Eurostat analysis from September showed that around 236,925 Ukrainian refugees lost their temporary protection status in Germany within just one month.
Sanya Singh for TROIB News
