Zelenskyy: return of draft-age Ukrainian men from abroad is a matter of fairness

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that military-age men who have left the country – some of whom left unlawfully – should return to Ukraine.

Source: Zelenskyy at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz

Quote from Zelenskyy: "As regards young people who are currently not in Ukraine, but abroad. First of all, there are different groups of young people. I agree with you regarding those of conscription age who left Ukraine. They left temporarily but ended up staying away for years. And many of them left in breach of Ukrainian law. The relevant authorities in both countries should address this issue."

Details: Zelenskyy said the return of military-age men to Ukraine is "a matter of fairness" and of the law.

He noted: "Our Armed Forces would certainly like them to return. Because this is a matter of fairness. We have people, soldiers on the front lines, who need rotations. These Ukrainian soldiers are as strong as iron, but let's be honest: they have families; they are defending their homes, and more than that – the entire state. But this responsibility should be borne by every person who is a citizen of Ukraine who has the capacity to do so. It is both a constitutional duty and a matter tied to conscription age."

On 25 March, Ukraine's Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said a Ministry of Defence team is preparing changes to the mobilisation process, decisions on absence without leave, and specific approaches for assault troops and infantry regarding service duration and financial support.

However, the Defence Ministry stressed that there is no truth in reports that the mobilisation process would be moving to a new administrative stage from 1 April onwards.