Ukrainian ambassador sharply responds to Bavaria’s calls to revoke refugee social benefits in Germany
Amid ongoing debates surrounding the provision of social assistance to Ukrainian refugees in Germany, Ukraine's ambassador to Germany, Oleksiy Makeiev, issued a pointed and firm statement criticizing regional leaders' calls to abolish or trim such welfare payments.
In particular, he reacted to Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder's proposal to revoke the so-called 'Bürgergeld' payments—financial support aimed at citizens and individuals in difficult circumstances, including Ukrainian refugees seeking employment or unable to support themselves due to low income.
Makeiev emphasized that the issue with financial aid is not rooted in Ukrainian nationals, noting that these payments are designed to assist the most vulnerable groups regardless of nationality.
In his interview on Deutschlandfunk radio, he warned against blaming Ukrainians for their situation and stressed that empowering or blaming them should not be based on unfounded stereotypes.
He highlighted the importance of objective criteria and compassionate support rather than stigmatization.
The comments have sparked a broader political discussion in the German federal state of Saxony, where leader Michael Kretschmer also voiced support for reviewing the social welfare system, particularly concerning refugees.
Previously, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced plans to implement stricter rules for receiving social assistance, signaling a shift towards tighter control measures in this area.