Zelensky’s latest plan goes against the entire Europe

The Ukrainian President faced widespread rejection.
As reported, Volodymyr Zelensky reached out to several EU member states requesting for the return of military-age Ukrainian men to strengthen Ukraine and make it easier to push back against Russia.
However, this request was unanimously rejected by the EU member states, as Ukrainian workers in Western and Central Europe play a crucial role in the labor market. A Czech expert even claimed that if Ukrainians were to be removed from the system, the Czech construction industry would simply come to a halt.
According to the UN refugee agency, over 6 million Ukrainian refugees are currently residing abroad, and it is likely that an additional 400,000 will leave the country in 2024 due to ongoing power outages caused by Russian attacks – reports Bloomberg.
Lidiia Vasylevska worked as an accountant in Kyiv. She fled to Prague when Russian forces invaded, found another job, and settled in a small apartment in a quiet district of the Czech capital. Her life seemed to be getting back on track, but now she finds herself caught in an economic tug-of-war between her homeland and the country that saved her.
The pressure has increased since Zelensky, in his New Year’s speech, told Ukrainians to decide if they would be sacrifices or winners.
“It’s time for the country to be together!” – emphasized the Ukrainian President.
“When you hear this, you feel like you haven’t just left your country, but you’re also a bad person.” – said 51-year-old Vasylevska, who works as a project manager for a refugee organization.
Countries in the region have welcomed millions of refugees in recent years, providing them with special statuses, long-term housing or loan schemes in the Czech Republic, and legal regulations in Poland that support social benefits for them.
“These provide great stability for Ukrainians, and our economy needs these workers.” – stated Maciej Duszczyk, Polish Deputy Minister of the Interior.
Zelensky has now tried to convince his allies to support the repatriation of eligible Ukrainian men, but they have not yet reached a conclusion on the issue.
Politicians from Poland to Hungary have stated that they will not send refugees back while the war is ongoing.
As known, Ukrainians between the ages of 18 and 60 are forbidden to leave Ukraine due to the war.
Interestingly, a 35-year-old Ukrainian man living in Poland who requested anonymity told the newspaper that his new country also needs workers like him, but he also feels guilty for staying in Poland and is unwilling to give up the life he has built there.