President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for the return of military-age Ukrainian men currently living abroad, framing the issue as a fundamental matter of fairness and law. Speaking during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the Ukrainian leader addressed the demographic of citizens who have remained outside the country for extended periods.
Zelenskyy specifically targeted groups of conscription-age men who left the country during the ongoing conflict. He noted that many of these individuals stayed away for years and, in some instances, departed in violation of national regulations.
"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," Zelenskyy said, according to reports from pravda.com.ua.
He added that the departure of these men often occurred through illegal means. "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."
A matter of duty
The President emphasized that the return of these men is necessary to support the soldiers currently engaged in combat. He argued that the burden of defense should not fall solely on those currently at the front lines.
"Our Armed Forces would certainly like them to return. Because this is a matter of fairness," Zelenskyy stated. He described the current soldiers as being "as strong as iron" but noted the heavy toll of continuous service.
Zelenskyy pointed out that frontline troops require rotations to maintain effectiveness. He stressed that the responsibility of defending the state belongs to every able-bodied citizen.
"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," the President said.
He concluded that fulfilling this role is both a constitutional obligation and a requirement tied to conscription age. This push for mobilization comes as the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence continues to refine its processes.
On March 25, Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced that a Ministry of Defence team is preparing updates to the mobilization process. These changes aim to address issues regarding absence without leave and provide specific approaches for infantry and assault troops regarding service duration and financial support.
Despite recent discussions regarding administrative shifts, the Defence Ministry clarified that there is no truth to reports suggesting the mobilization process would move to a new administrative stage starting April 1.
