Bavarian Premier Markus Söder has renewed his call for the European Union to take steps to curb the increasing number of young Ukrainian men arriving in Germany. In comments published by Bild on Friday, the CSU party leader argued that both Brussels and Berlin must act jointly to persuade Kyiv to reverse the recent relaxation of its exit regulations.
“We must manage and significantly reduce the steep increase in arrivals of young men from Ukraine,” Söder said. “Therefore, the EU and the German government need to urge Ukraine to reinstate stricter exit restrictions.”
The Bavarian leader said the goal is clear: to encourage Ukraine to keep more of its male citizens at home for national defence rather than allowing them to seek refuge abroad.
“Ukraine needs soldiers to defend its own land”
Söder stressed that Germany continues to stand by Ukraine “with weapons, money and humanitarian support,” but also expects Kyiv to uphold its responsibilities.
“It helps no one if ever more young men come to Germany instead of defending their own homeland,” he told Bild.
“Our solidarity remains, but it requires clear rules and responsibility on both sides.”
If voluntary cooperation proves insufficient, Söder suggested that the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive—which grants Ukrainians broad freedom of movement and residence rights within the bloc—should be restricted at the European level.
Renewed pressure after weeks of debate
This is not the first time Söder has raised the issue. Earlier in the week, following a CSU board meeting in Munich, he again urged the federal government to set “clear, sensible limits” on migration from Ukraine.
“That means stopping automatic social benefits, and yes, limiting both access and inflow,” Söder said on Monday.
His remarks came amid reports that many young Ukrainian men were considering travel to Germany after Kyiv loosened exit restrictions intended for temporary visits or study purposes.
According to Germany’s Federal Interior Ministry, the number of Ukrainian males aged 18 to 22 entering the country rose dramatically—from around 19 per week in mid-August to over 1 000 per week in mid-September, and as many as 1 800 per week in early October.
Broader European context
The debate mirrors a growing tension within Europe: how to balance humanitarian protection for Ukrainians with the need to maintain military capacity inside Ukraine itself. Several EU states, including Poland and Czechia, have also expressed unease over increasing cross-border movements by draft-age Ukrainian men.
For Söder, the issue is both moral and practical. While he insists on Germany’s unwavering solidarity, he argues that continued large-scale arrivals of fighting-age men risk undermining Ukraine’s defence effort — and public support within Germany for ongoing aid.
