Poland Urges EU to Cut Benefits for Draft-Eligible Ukrainian Refugees
Polish foreign minister proposes stopping social security payments to Ukrainian men of fighting age in EU countries to encourage their return and enlistment. Ukraine supports the idea amid ongoing conflict with Russia.
Radoslaw Sikorski, Poland's foreign minister, has proposed that European governments cease providing benefits to male Ukrainian refugees of military age. This suggestion aims to motivate these individuals to return to Ukraine and join the armed forces, addressing both financial concerns in host countries and Ukraine's recruitment needs.
Ukraine's military currently faces a shortage of personnel due to casualties and the need to maintain defenses against advancing Russian forces in the eastern regions. The country implemented a ban on foreign travel for men aged 18 to 60 without special permission following Russia's invasion on February 22, 2022, which is now over 2.5 years ago.
Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine's foreign minister, expressed support for Sikorski's proposal, stating, "It's time really to raise the question of the European Union developing programmes to return Ukrainians home." This aligns with Ukraine's recent efforts to bolster its military strength, including lowering the combat duty call-up age from 27 to 25 earlier this year.
According to Eurostat data from July 2024, over 4.1 million Ukrainians held temporary protection status in European Union countries, with approximately 22% being adult men. This significant number underscores the potential impact of the proposed policy change.
Poland, hosting nearly one million Ukrainian refugees, stands as the second-largest host country in the EU after Germany. In April 2024, Poland's defense minister, Wladyslaw Kosiniak, indicated Warsaw's readiness to assist Ukraine in repatriating men subject to compulsory military service.
The ongoing conflict has deep historical roots, with the Russo-Ukrainian War beginning in 2014 following Russia's annexation of Crimea. Ukraine, with a population of about 44 million, has been striving to bolster its armed forces, which currently comprise approximately 255,000 active personnel.
"Stop paying those social security payments for people who are eligible for the Ukrainian draft. There should be no financial incentives for avoiding the draft in Ukraine. It's not a human right to be paid to avoid the draft, to defend your country. We in Poland don't do it."
This proposal comes at a critical time for Ukraine, which applied for EU membership in February 2022. The country's efforts to strengthen its military are crucial as it continues to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
As the situation develops, the international community watches closely to see how this proposal might impact the dynamics of refugee support and military mobilization in the ongoing conflict.
