Netherlands seeks ways to return Ukrainian men of conscription age home

During a parliamentary discussion on migration policy, Prime Minister Schoof made the relevant statement in response to a question from Geert Wilders, leader of the "Party for Freedom."

Wilders expressed concern that "tens of thousands" of Ukrainian men are currently in the Netherlands. In contrast, the Ukrainian government wants them to return home to defend the country or assist in its reconstruction.

"I think it’s entirely normal that when your country is at war, you help defend your own country," said Wilders.

During discussions, the Dutch Prime Minister noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy approached the issue of forcibly returning conscription-age men home very "cautiously." The Prime Minister believes this is a "reasonable approach," but Wilders was unsatisfied with this response.

"You can also implement a policy to encourage them to return," Wilders suggested.

The head of the Dutch government added that he would like to consider this matter with Ukraine. Schoof also noted that Ukrainian refugees still have the right to asylum, medical care, employment, and education.

Dutch media reported that last fall, more than 19,000 Ukrainian men of conscription age were living in the Netherlands. In total, around 39,000 Ukrainian men were registered in the country. The number of women who found refuge in the Netherlands amounts to 63,000.

Background

It’s worth noting that discussions about the return of Ukrainian men began in Poland. The Polish authorities did not rule out the possibility of assisting Ukraine in returning men of the conscription age. Poland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized that Warsaw awaits Ukraine's initiatives.

In Czechia, it was announced that they would not forcibly return Ukrainian men.

Recently, the EU commented on the possibility of deporting conscription-age men from the EU to Ukraine.