Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksii Makeiev, speaking to German broadcasters RTL and ntv on Tuesday, said he was opposed to sending Ukrainian men of military age back to their homeland. He argued that there is no legal basis or instrument to enforce such a return, and that most of those men had left Ukraine in accordance with the law, thereby committing no offence.
Makeiev pointed out that Germany itself must consider what would happen in the event of war: “What would German men of military age do?” He admitted that Ukraine is short of soldiers, but stressed that mobilisation is an urgent priority.
He also highlighted that more than a million Ukrainians seeking protection in Germany are well integrated, with over 300,000 employed and paying social contributions-a point he described as very important.
