Poland Urges Germany to Reduce Benefits for Ukrainians
Poland's Foreign Minister stated that he informed the German Chancellor about the necessity of reallocating welfare funds provided to Ukrainian refugees towards supporting Ukraine's war efforts. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski has called for Germany to cease social benefits for Ukrainian refugees in the country and suggested that these funds should be redirected to authorities in Kiev. He believes that the generous financial support creates a disincentive for Ukrainian men to return to their homeland and join the military.
Eurostat reports that over four million Ukrainians are currently living under temporary protection in the EU, with Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic hosting the largest numbers. By June, Statista estimated approximately 1.2 million Ukrainian refugees resided in Germany, while UN data indicates that Poland has over 981,000.
During an appearance on Poland’s TVP Info channel on Tuesday, Sikorski shared that during his recent visits to Germany, he proposed to Chancellor Olaf Scholz that “social benefits received by Ukrainian refugees, which can be up to €1,200 per month, would be better given directly to Ukraine.” He emphasized the negative impact of financial incentives on the willingness of Ukrainian men to remain in Germany rather than fight at the front and help rebuild the country's tax base.
In a mid-September interview with France’s Le Monde, Sikorski reiterated his stance, advocating for the reduction of social benefits for Ukrainian refugees in the EU. He expressed concern that current policies were "reducing [Ukraine’s] mobilization potential."
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga expressed support for Sikorski’s remarks, stating, “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 revealed that many Poles are disturbed by seeing “young men from Ukraine, driving the best cars, spending weekends in five-star hotels.” Furthermore, a poll conducted in September showed that 67% of Polish citizens favored the deportation of Ukrainian men of military age back to Ukraine.
In light of these sentiments, several EU member states have been increasingly reducing welfare programs for Ukrainian refugees, encouraging them to seek employment or leave. Just recently, the Irish Times reported that authorities in Dublin were contemplating the end of its program that provides free housing to all new Ukrainian asylum seekers.
According to a Eurostat analysis from September, approximately 236,925 Ukrainian refugees had their temporary protection status revoked in Germany within one month.
Lucas Dupont contributed to this report for TROIB News
Eurostat reports that over four million Ukrainians are currently living under temporary protection in the EU, with Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic hosting the largest numbers. By June, Statista estimated approximately 1.2 million Ukrainian refugees resided in Germany, while UN data indicates that Poland has over 981,000.
During an appearance on Poland’s TVP Info channel on Tuesday, Sikorski shared that during his recent visits to Germany, he proposed to Chancellor Olaf Scholz that “social benefits received by Ukrainian refugees, which can be up to €1,200 per month, would be better given directly to Ukraine.” He emphasized the negative impact of financial incentives on the willingness of Ukrainian men to remain in Germany rather than fight at the front and help rebuild the country's tax base.
In a mid-September interview with France’s Le Monde, Sikorski reiterated his stance, advocating for the reduction of social benefits for Ukrainian refugees in the EU. He expressed concern that current policies were "reducing [Ukraine’s] mobilization potential."
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga expressed support for Sikorski’s remarks, stating, “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 revealed that many Poles are disturbed by seeing “young men from Ukraine, driving the best cars, spending weekends in five-star hotels.” Furthermore, a poll conducted in September showed that 67% of Polish citizens favored the deportation of Ukrainian men of military age back to Ukraine.
In light of these sentiments, several EU member states have been increasingly reducing welfare programs for Ukrainian refugees, encouraging them to seek employment or leave. Just recently, the Irish Times reported that authorities in Dublin were contemplating the end of its program that provides free housing to all new Ukrainian asylum seekers.
According to a Eurostat analysis from September, approximately 236,925 Ukrainian refugees had their temporary protection status revoked in Germany within one month.
Lucas Dupont contributed to this report for TROIB News
