Ukraine and Germany are discussing mechanisms for the return of men who left the country illegally
Ukraine and Germany are working within a joint working group to develop mechanisms for the return of Ukrainians of draft age who have left the country illegally. At the same time, the details of these mechanisms are not being disclosed at this time.
According to the diplomat, cooperation between Kyiv and Berlin in this area consists of two main components.
“The first is Unity Hub—that is, our government’s work with the Ukrainian community to explain what options are available. The second is to understand how we can facilitate their return in cooperation with the Germans. Therefore, a working group has been established between Ukrainian and German agencies to facilitate the exchange of information,” Makeyev noted.
He emphasized that it is important for Ukraine to have a clear understanding of the structure of the Ukrainian community in Germany.
“We need to know our audience. Today, there are about 1.3 million Ukrainians in Germany. We see that the proportion of those who are already working—who not only receive benefits but also pay social security contributions—is increasing significantly. These figures are not yet on par with those in Poland, but a large portion of Ukrainians have already integrated,” the ambassador said.
At the same time, the diplomat emphasized that Ukraine and Germany are interested in maintaining Ukrainians’ ties to their homeland, as they can play an important role in the country’s post-war reconstruction.
“It is in our interest and in Germany’s interest to ensure that we can count on professionally trained Ukrainians during Ukraine’s reconstruction. This is our shared interest,” Makeev added.
Commenting on the issue of the return of men of draft age who have illegally left the country, the ambassador confirmed that the relevant mechanisms are already being developed.
“I will not disclose these mechanisms at this time. They are currently being discussed within the framework of this working group,” the diplomat stated.
This was reported by Ukraine’s Ambassador to Germany, Oleksiy Makeev, in an interview with Ukrinform.
European countries have begun preparing for the expiration of the temporary protection mechanism for Ukrainians and are launching programs for voluntary return to their homeland.
As a reminder, Ukrainian “Passport Service” centers in Poland and Italy are transitioning to a new appointment system via the “Diya” app, which is intended to streamline the processing of citizens and reduce lines. In some cities, however, a limited number of “in-person” tickets remain available.
Ukrainians living abroad can now obtain a tax identification number for their children entirely remotely, without having to travel to Ukraine or wait in line at a consulate. This refers to the taxpayer identification number, which can now be obtained online.
