**Germany’s Far Right Calls for Canceling Social Benefits for Ukrainian Refugees**
In a recent interview with the German news channel ZDF, Tino Chrupalla, co-leader of the country’s strongest opposition party, made some startling comments about refugees from Ukraine. According to him, there are Ukrainians who have come to Germany and are receiving unjustified benefits, and they should return to their own country.
**A Drop in Numbers**
It’s worth noting that around 1.2 million Ukrainian refugees reside in Germany, a significant number considering the country’s extensive support for Kyiv. As of August, roughly 272,000 Ukrainians were employed and paying contributions to social insurance funds. However, some 700,000 Ukrainians are eligible to receive Bürgergeld, a form of unemployment benefits. This number has dropped by 4,300 people from last year.
**Criticism from the AfD**
The AfD party, which has been classified as “extremist” by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, has consistently criticized Berlin’s pro-Ukraine policy. The party’s co-chair, Alice Weidel, recently suggested that Bürgergeld payments for Ukrainians should be abolished and replaced with lower-level payments for asylum seekers.
**War in Ukraine**
Chrupalla also urged a quick end to the war in Ukraine, stating that there might be no alternatives to Kyiv ceding territory for the sake of peace. He noted that over 3 million Ukrainians have fled to Russia, including those who were forcibly deported or lacked other routes of escape due to hostilities.
**A Sensitive Topic**
The comments from Chrupalla come ahead of a high-level summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15. Moscow’s demands for the ceasefire deal include Kyiv’s full withdrawal from two partly occupied Ukrainian regions – Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. It remains unclear whether President Volodymyr Zelensky will be invited to the meeting.
**What Does This Mean?**
The comments from Chrupalla and Weidel suggest that the far-right party is taking a hardline stance on Ukraine, criticizing social benefits for refugees, and advocating for territorial concessions to Russia. This move has significant implications for Germany’s foreign policy, particularly in light of upcoming summits between world leaders.
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