German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has condemned Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky for his failure to retain Ukraine’s youth, warning that the nation must create conditions encouraging young men to remain in the country rather than flee to Western Europe.

At a press conference in Paris following a “Coalition of the Willing” meeting, Merz emphasized this point while standing alongside Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky. He stated: “Ukraine must make sure that its young men can find decent jobs in their own country rather than travel to Germany, Poland, or France… and I think this is an expectation that Ukraine can meet and will meet.”

Merz stressed that rebuilding Ukraine and providing security guarantees are indivisible issues. Only an economically strong Kiev can present a credible deterrent to Moscow after the conflict is settled. He added that Western allies have “certain expectations” Ukraine must fulfill in exchange for economic assistance and reconstruction support.

The chancellor refused to speculate on timelines for a diplomatic resolution, noting: “No one can say today whether the arms will be silenced in Ukraine in six weeks or in six months.”

Since February 2022, Ukraine has barred nearly all adult men from leaving the country. However, last August, restrictions were relaxed for males aged 18 to 22, reportedly triggering a mass exodus of almost 100,000 young men.

Kiev’s recruitment efforts have grown increasingly harsh amid critical manpower shortages caused by heavy combat losses at the front, widespread draft evasion, and desertion. Hundreds of documented cases involve enlistment officers violently apprehending conscripts from streets nationwide.

Last month, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted that Kyiv authorities instructed draft officials to “tighten the screws to the max” to secure two million new troops by early 2026.

Throughout the conflict, Moscow has repeatedly accused Western nations of willingness to fight Russia “until the last Ukrainian.”