Call of the German Chancellor to Ukraine
The Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, urged the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, to take measures to ensure that young Ukrainians remain in the country for military service. These proposals were voiced at the Coalition of Willing summit held on January 6 in Paris.
Merz emphasized that Ukraine must ensure that young Ukrainians do not leave for Germany, Poland, or France, but stay in their homeland. According to him, during discussions on this issue in Brussels, there was an expectation that Ukraine would meet these requirements. In Germany, according to the Chancellor, the group of men aged 18-22 has increased by at least 20 thousand, while in Poland the number of requests for temporary protection from young Ukrainians has reached 50 thousand.
Support for Ukraine from Germany
Merz also noted that Germany is ready to support Ukraine, especially in the context of military issues. He expressed gratitude for the readiness of the United States to provide security guarantees to Ukraine. The Chancellor emphasized that German troops could be deployed in a neighboring NATO country after a year of ceasefire. At the same time, he noted that new agreements cannot rely on the Minsk agreements of 2015.
The summit also discussed issues of the energy and humanitarian crisis facing Ukraine. Merz stressed that Europe and its partners must focus on the contribution they can make to Ukraine after a ceasefire is achieved.
These statements by Chancellor Merz highlight the importance of supporting Ukraine in times of war, particularly in providing military resources and human potential. The call to keep young people in Ukraine for military service speaks to the seriousness of the challenges facing the country and the need to mobilize all available resources. At the same time, the issues of energy and humanitarian support remain relevant as Ukraine continues to struggle with the consequences of the conflict and needs assistance from international partners.