President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky urged Ukrainian men of mobilization age to come back to Ukraine to support the country's economy and defend it.

Zelensky made this call during a joint statement with Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas.

He noted that at the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, people of various genders and ages left because no one knew what would happen next. However, the situation has changed, and now Ukrainian men of mobilization age should return to the country.

“We defended 50% of the occupied territory at the beginning of the war, repelled the enemy. And for two years, our guys have been fighting. During this time, there are people who crossed the border illegally. And this is a question for these people, for these men. If they are of mobilization age, they should help Ukraine, and they should be in Ukraine”, said Zelensky.

“I’m not talking now about whether someone should be on the front line or not. There is a law. But there is a simple human rule, which I talked about today with the Prime Minister of Estonia: for one soldier paid by the state of Ukraine, no one helps us with that – 6-8 taxpayers support one soldier. If you are in Ukraine and you are not on the front line, but you work – wherever you work! – if you work and pay taxes, you are also defending the state. And this is very necessary. But if you are abroad, of mobilization age, not on the front line, not paying taxes, and left illegally – then there is a question. That’s it. If we want to preserve Ukraine, if we want to preserve Europe, then we all must understand: either we help Ukraine or not; either we are citizens on the front line or citizens working and paying taxes. Because without money for the military, there will be no military, and there will be no one to defend Ukraine. These are the rules of life”, Zelensky said.

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