By Olena Harmash
European governments have been urged to take a bold step in supporting Ukraine's fight against Russian forces by cutting off welfare benefits to Ukrainian men of military age residing in their countries. Poland's foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, proposed this measure during a recent meeting in Kyiv, emphasizing that it would not only help Ukraine in calling up more troops but also benefit the state finances of host countries in Western Europe.
According to data from Eurostat, over 4.1 million Ukrainians have temporary protection status in EU countries, with approximately 22% of them being adult men. Sikorski stressed the importance of removing financial incentives for avoiding the draft in Ukraine, stating that it is not a human right to be paid to shirk one's duty to defend their country.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed his support for Sikorski's proposal, calling for the development of EU programs to facilitate the return of Ukrainians to their homeland under appropriate conditions.
As the war against Russia enters its 31st month, Kyiv is in urgent need of more soldiers to bolster its defense lines, replace exhausted troops, and compensate for losses. To address this challenge, Ukraine recently implemented new legislation, including lowering the call-up age for combat duty and urging Ukrainian men living abroad to renew their military draft information online and join the fight.
Despite imposing martial law and restrictions on travel for men aged 18 to 60, some individuals of military age have managed to evade the draft by fleeing abroad or exploiting corrupt practices within the army recruitment system.
Analysis:
The proposal to halt welfare benefits for Ukrainian men in Europe could have significant implications for Ukraine's military defense strategy. By incentivizing men of military age to return home and join the fight against Russian forces, Kyiv stands to strengthen its armed forces and better resist Moscow's advances in eastern Ukraine.
Furthermore, this measure could help address issues of corruption and draft evasion within the Ukrainian army, ensuring that the country can mobilize a sufficient number of troops to defend its sovereignty.