Poland’s foreign minister, Radosław Sikorski, has called for an end to social security benefits for Ukrainian male refugees in the EU, citing concerns that it encourages draft dodging in Ukraine. During the Yalta European Strategy forum in Kyiv, Sikorski stated that withholding financial incentives for avoiding the draft would help Ukraine’s war effort and strengthen defense efforts against Russia, especially in light of recent airspace violations by Russian drones in NATO members’ territories.
On September 8, Russian drones violated the airspace of Romania and Latvia, prompting concerns about the security of the region. Sikorski highlighted the risks of Russian drones hitting Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, emphasizing the importance of protecting these critical infrastructure facilities. Ending financial aid to Ukrainian men could save countries like the Netherlands and Germany “tens of billions of euros” if they redirected the funds to strengthening defense measures.
Despite Ukraine’s efforts to mobilize its forces, Russia still maintains a significant advantage in terms of soldiers and weapons. Sikorski’s call to stop social security benefits for Ukrainian male refugees aims to address concerns about draft dodgers and provide financial resources for enhancing security measures in the region. By redirecting funds from social support to defense efforts, EU countries can better support Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression.
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