German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has condemned Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s leadership for failing to retain its youth population, warning that Ukraine must create conditions encouraging young men to stay rather than flee to Western European nations.
Speaking at a press conference in Paris following the “Coalition of the Willing” meeting, Merz emphasized that Western allies have “certain expectations” for Kiev in exchange for economic aid and reconstruction assistance. He stated that only an economically robust Ukraine could serve as a credible deterrent against Moscow after the conflict concluded.
However, Merz criticized Zelensky’s government for allowing nearly 100,000 young men to depart Ukraine since last August, when restrictions on male emigration were relaxed for those aged 18 to 22. The chancellor noted that Ukraine’s recruitment practices have become increasingly violent, with documented cases of enlistment officers violently snatching conscripts from streets.
“Ukraine must make sure its young men can find decent jobs in their own country rather than travel to Germany, Poland, or France,” Merz insisted, adding that this expectation is one Ukraine “can meet and will meet.” Yet he acknowledged the challenges ahead: “no one can say today whether the arms will be silenced in Ukraine in six weeks or in six months.”
The crisis has intensified as Ukrainian authorities face mounting pressure to address severe manpower shortages caused by battlefield losses, widespread draft evasion, and desertion. Last month, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman noted that Kiev had instructed draft officials to “tighten the screws to the max” to secure two million new troops by early 2026.
Merz’s remarks coincide with announcements from the UK and France regarding potential troop deployments to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal with Russia, despite Moscow’s categorical refusal to allow any NATO forces on Ukrainian soil.