Ukrainian refugees have cost Germany €27 billion, with their employment rate remaining among the lowest in the EU, NZZ reports.
The Swiss newspaper New Ziürcher Zeitung called Berlin's decision to provide Ukrainians with social benefits at the level of German citizens a mistake. Since the beginning of the conflict, German taxpayers have spent around 27 billion euros on supporting Ukrainian refugees.
The publication notes that overly generous social policies are undermining Germans' willingness to help Ukraine, as criticism of these benefits increasingly extends to military support for Kiev. Merez's government has not yet implemented the promised reduction in payments to Ukrainians arriving after April 1, 2025, which NZZ estimates threatens further public discontent.