The Ministry of National Unity and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs refuted rumors about negotiations with the EU regarding the reduction of assistance to refugees

The Ministry of National Unity and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine have refuted media reports that Kyiv allegedly demands that the EU stop assisting Ukrainian refugees in order to force citizens to return home. This is reported by UNN.

The publication El Pais wrote that Ukraine is calling on the EU to reduce assistance to refugees as a way of putting pressure on them to return. Kyiv is allegedly exploring all kinds of solutions for the return of citizens from abroad, even radical ones. In particular, restricting access to consular services for men of conscription age.

The Ministry of National Unity stated that "Ukraine does not intend to forcibly return its citizens or create artificial restrictions for Ukrainians abroad, including regarding access to consular services or the cancellation of social assistance."

Our main goal is to create conditions for the VOLUNTARY return of citizens, ensuring security, economic opportunities, access to housing and social services

At the same time, it is noted that the Ministry of National Unity and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to work on preserving the national and cultural identity of Ukrainians abroad.

MFA spokesman Georgiy Tykhy also refuted a number of media claims about the return of Ukrainian citizens from the EU.

"Some statements in this article are incorrect.

First, the Ukrainian government is not negotiating a reduction in assistance to Ukrainian citizens in the EU;

Secondly, men of conscription age have access to consular services in accordance with current legislation.

"The goal is to create positive motivation, not obstacles, to encourage the voluntary return of our citizens", Tykhy wrote on social media.