President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested that social assistance provided by various countries to Ukrainian refugees should be directed to the Ukrainian budget and then distributed among people.
He said this in an interview with the German TV channel ARD.
Asked by a journalist whether it would be better to cut social assistance to 200,000 men of military age who have left for Germany so that the money saved could be used to support Ukraine, Zelenskyy said it would be better for the money to go to the Ukrainian budget.
"It happens that this person receives support from both you and us. Well, it happens. I am not talking about our Ukrainians in Germany. I'm generalising here. And that is why I have always said that it would be much better for us if Germany supported Ukrainians by giving money to the budget of Ukraine, and then Ukraine would redistribute this money depending on where this person is," the president said.
Zelenskyy added that some of Ukraine's money is in Europe, as it was taken by refugees fleeing the war. According to the president, after the start of financial support for Ukrainians, all the money remained abroad and in the economy of a particular state.
"Our money left, and the European money remained where the citizens of Ukraine remained. Outside the territory of Ukraine. When the whole world talks about financial support for Ukrainians, I would like to draw attention to where most of this money remains," he said.
However, he stressed that the decision to support Ukrainians is up to the Germans and Germany.
Zelenskyy suggested that the issue of Ukrainian refugees, particularly men, should not be generalised.
"There are many different details here: there are people who left for various reasons and had legal reasons and opportunities to leave, there are people of non-mobilisation age, there are those who left earlier, there are students," the president said, adding that no one can "take and return" anyone to Ukraine, and it is necessary to act in accordance with the law.
Zelenskyy added that he is grateful to those Ukrainians who return home, work, pay taxes and thus boost the economy and help the Armed Forces.