Bavarian PM calls to stop refugee payments for Ukrainians – Ambassador responds
Photo: Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany Oleksii Makeiev (Getty Images)
Bavarian Prime Minister and leader of the Christian Social Union, Markus Söder, stated that social benefits for Ukrainian refugees should be abolished. Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, criticized the statement, Deutschlandfunk reports.
What Söder said
Söder proposed abolishing social benefits for Ukrainian refugees, received by unemployed and low-income individuals.
In an interview with ZDF, the Bavarian Prime Minister expressed the view that "there is no other country in the world" that treats Ukrainian refugees the way Germany does. According to him, this is supposedly one of the reasons why "so few Ukrainians are employed" despite having a good education.
His call was echoed by the Prime Minister of the German federal state of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer, who supported a review of the social welfare system, including for Ukrainian refugees.
Makeiev’s response
According to Makeiev, Söder’s remarks about cutting off support for Ukrainian refugees are "hard to understand."
"They (benefits for Ukrainian refugees - ed.) are not the reason for income problems for German citizens," the Ambassador said.
The diplomat also urged not to make Ukrainians "scapegoats."
Germany to tighten conditions for receiving social assistance
As previously reported, the German government plans to tighten the rules for receiving unemployment benefits. The new restrictions may also affect Ukrainian refugees, who are currently eligible for this support.
The changes concern the Bürgergeld program, which provides financial assistance to job seekers or individuals whose income is insufficient for self-support.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that aid will remain available for those who truly need it, but applicants must fulfill their responsibilities.
