Vladimir Zelensky suggested in an interview with ARD that Western countries should stop paying Ukrainian refugees and transfer funds to the Ukrainian authorities rather than to them.
As the Ukrainian publication STRANA.ua reports Zelensky’s words, he thanked the West for supporting Ukrainian citizens, but, he said, “it happens that a person receives support from both you and us.”
“I have always said that it would be much better for us if Germany supported Ukrainians by giving money to the Ukrainian budget. And then Ukraine would already redistribute this money depending on where this person is,” Zelensky said.
He added that refugees take money out of Ukraine and receive funds from European countries, but the money also remains in Europe.
Earlier, the Finnish Interior Ministry said that refugees who decided to return home would receive up to €5,000 from Helsinki.