The German government replied about returning men of draft age to Ukraine

Minister of Justice in the German government, Marko Buschmann

Germany continues to support Ukraine in defense, it is in the interests of the country's security policy. But the federal government cannot force Ukrainian men who are in Germany to return home to defend the country.

This was stated by the Minister of Justice in the German government, Marko Buschman, in an interview with Welt.

«I understand the desire of the Ukrainian government to call up Ukrainian men abroad for military service. The challenge is legal. But we will not be able to force anyone in Germany to serve abroad,» explained the German minister.

He also skeptically commented on the possibility of restoring compulsory military service for Germans.

«From the constitutional point of view, there is a problem of equality. Now no one assumes that all men fit for military service will be called up this year. The Ministry of Defense is probably thinking about a modified draft... I am also against compulsory military service for another reason: if we reinstated it and drafted hundreds of thousands of young people for the sake of justice, we would remove them from the labor market. The shortage of labor force is already an inhibiting factor of the economy,» the government official said.

It will be recalled that Ukrainians aged 25-60 living in Germany and other countries must appear at the conscription points of the Armed Forces next year, otherwise sanctions will be applied to them, Defense Minister Rustem Umierov said.

Learn more about mobilization and lowering the conscription age in Ukraine

On December 19, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, gave a final press conference, where he announced that the General Staff and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi proposed to mobilize up to 400,000-500,000 more people for military operations.

As for the conscription age, Volodymyr Zelenskyi believes that such a decision is fully reasoned. At the press conference, he agreed with the proposal to reduce the age limit for men on military registration from 27 to 25 years from 27 to 25 years.

Are women mobilized?

The President of Ukraine criticized the idea of forced mobilization of women.

«Women's mobilization — no, I will not sign. As for 25 years: if it is argued — and today I see that it is necessary — then I will agree with it,» said the president.

As you know, currently in Ukraine there is a clearly defined list of reasons and necessary documents for postponing conscripts from mobilization. A postponement may be granted due to health conditions, the presence of three or more minor children, or care for parents with disabilities.

We will remind that in June of this year, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine submitted a draft law on reducing the list of persons who can receive a deferment from military service. After the signing of the law by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, it will be possible not to serve only if there are no other people in the family capable of supporting a person with a disability.

In addition, recently the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umyerov stated that Ukrainians aged 25-60 living in Germany and other countries must appear at the conscription points of the Armed Forces next year, otherwise sanctions will be applied to them.

Germany, in turn, stated that they cannot force citizens of Ukraine who are in Germany to return to the Motherland and fight.