Overview
- Merz said a notable share of recent arrivals to Germany are men aged 18 to 24, citing Ukraine’s compulsory service beginning at 25.
- He asked Kyiv to tighten exit rules for that age group to keep needed workers and potential conscripts in the country.
- Merz also pressed for rapid action on a corruption scandal in Kyiv, and Berlin said Zelensky committed to transparency and support for independent anti-corruption bodies.
- Germany reaffirmed long-term financial support for Ukraine and, if required, military aid, and signaled willingness to provide proportional guarantees linked to frozen Russian state assets in Belgium.
- About 1.2 million Ukrainians seeking protection are currently in Germany, according to the federal population research institute.