Poland is prepared to help Ukraine get draft-age men back – Polish Defence Ministry
Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz has said that Poland is ready to help Ukraine get men of military age back to "fulfil their civic obligation".
Source: Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz in an interview with Polsat News, Reuters reports
Quote: "I think many Poles are outraged when they see young Ukrainian men in hotels and cafes, and they hear how much effort we have to make to help Ukraine."
Details: The minister also said that Poland has offered to help Ukraine in the past with getting men who are liable for military service to return to their country and fulfil their civic obligation.
"Any support is possible," Kosiniak-Kamysh said when asked how Poland would respond if Kyiv asked for help with getting men who lose the right to remain in Poland after their passports expire to return home.
Reuters reports, citing Eurostat, that as of January 2024, about 4.3 million Ukrainians are living in EU countries, of whom about 860,000 are adult men. Poland has granted temporary protection status to 950,000 Ukrainians, the second-largest number after Germany.
Background:
- On 11 April, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's parliament) adopted the law On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on Certain Issues of Military Service, Mobilisation and Military Registration on the second reading. The law has been signed by the president and published.
- On 23 April, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba confirmed reports that consular services were being suspended for Ukrainian men who are liable for military service.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs later stated that after the mobilisation law enters into force on 18 May 2024, "the process of accepting and reviewing applications for consular actions will continue with account of the new requirements arising from provisions of the law".
- The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (Ukrainian government) has banned the issuance of Ukrainian passports, either internal or for international travel, to Ukrainian men aged 18 to 60. From now on, they will only be able to obtain these documents at a territorial agency or territorial unit of the State Migration Service.
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