Germany does not rule out the possibility of returning Ukrainians liable for military service to Ukraine – Tagesspiegel

Germany does not rule out the possibility of returning Ukrainians liable for military service to their homeland. At the same time, the country wants to remain a safe haven for refugees.

This was stated by Roman Posek, Minister of the Interior of the German federal state of Hesse, in an interview with Tagesspiegel. According to him, the German government wants to discuss what to do with Ukrainian men.

"This may also include assistance in ensuring that Ukraine can use men who have fled abroad but may be involved in the war," said Posek.

According to the politician, there is a dilemma in the issue of Ukrainian men, as it is necessary to support Ukraine's defense capabilities. However, Germany wants to remain a safe haven for refugees.

Commenting on the restrictions on consular services for men abroad imposed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Posek said he sees no chance that Germany will issue any of its replacements for expired passports.

"I am skeptical because I do not see that there are appropriate conditions for this. Ukraine is not an illegitimate state," he explained.

In addition, according to German television, the federal states and the German Interior Ministry plan to discuss the situation with the Ukrainian men on Tuesday, May 7. The federal states want Berlin to make some kind of national decision. After the Ukrainian parliament passed the law on mobilization, the Foreign Ministry introduced temporary restrictions on consular services for men.

The reason for this step was that the adopted law provides for changes in the rules for providing consular services to men, in particular, they must have military registration documents.

Therefore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided to stop providing consular services to men until it brought its own regulations in line with the new legislation and dispelled several myths that had arisen around this decision. After that, Poland and Lithuania started talking about the possibility of helping Ukraine to return men with military service from abroad.

Last week, Mykhailo Podoliak, an advisor to the head of the Presidential Office, said that the EU countries should decide on the return of Ukrainian men from abroad. And this decision must be unanimous.

Earlier it became known that Poland, like other democratic countries, would never take such a step as extraditing to Ukraine men subject to military service who are qualified as evaders at home and recognized as refugees abroad. And consular services to citizens are related to the country's domestic policy, not foreign policy.

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