Some of the support programs are expiring next month

Millions of Ukrainians rushed westward in late February after Russia launched an offensive against their country. Initially welcomed with open arms by European nations, they are now seeing the support dwindle – at least when it comes to the benefits offered by host countries.

European nations are now deciding how much they want to spend on Ukrainian refugees, and some of the freebies offered in the first weeks are about to expire.


1
No more free rides

Starting next month, Germany’s Deutsche Bahn railway company will no longer give free tickets to anyone possessing a Ukrainian passport. In March, the rail monopoly offered free transit to Ukrainian passport holders traveling to the major German cities of Berlin, Dresden, Nuremberg and Munich. It also issued free “helpukraine tickets” to those asking for them.
While new arrivals will still be provided with free rides, the free tickets will be abolished. The German government said needy Ukrainians will be receiving social benefits starting in June, so the end of the program won’t restrict their mobility much since they will be able to buy universal €9 ($9.65) monthly tickets for public transport.

Germany is just one of several European nations that decided to discontinue free tickets for Ukrainians. Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Poland and Switzerland have made similar decisions. Poland will keep some train rides free for vulnerable Ukrainians, such as elderly men, women and disabled people.


2.
Vacating hotels

Popular holiday destinations are reportedly planning to displace thousands of Ukrainian refugees that were given lodging at beachfront hotels. In Spain, as the tourist season gets underway, rooms currently occupied by refugees will need to be vacated to accommodate paying visitors, some of whom made their bookings months ago. According to the newspaper El Pais, as many as 12,000 people face eviction.

The situation is no different in Bulgaria, where starting next month only three hotels at the popular Sunny Beach resort will still accommodate Ukrainian refugees, according to Radio Bulgaria. Some 38,000 were asked to move out of their temporary homes by the end of May.


3.
Welfare cut

Some host nations are also reducing the cash aid that they pay to refugees. In Bulgaria, the daily allowance will go down from around $22 per person to $8 next month.
The Czech Republic will no longer pay no-questions-asked welfare of $217 per month for five months to Ukrainians. The government will deduct the cost of free housing from the first month’s payment and demand proof of need from recipients in subsequent months. Czech authorities are encouraging Ukrainians to get jobs or risk losing the benefits.


4.
Benefits-triggered crime

In some cases, the assistance that Ukrainian refugees are receiving in European countries exposes them to local crime. Stanimir Stanev, a senior Bulgarian police official, revealed in a report to the country’s parliament this week that cars from Ukraine are being targeted by thieves interested in their license plates.
Because the government decided not to collect road tolls and parking fees from refugees, some crooks are taking advantage of this by replacing their plates with stolen Ukrainian ones, Stanev said.


Rtnews

after encouraging them to go to war, now they are driving them out.
the west would use you & dump you.
they can never have your best interest at heart.
their only interest had always been how to weaken Russia economy, & not about the welfare of Ukrainians.
zelensky is really a big fool for thinking they had their best interest at heart.

No place like home

donaldking10:
after encouraging them to go to war, now they are driving them out.
the west would use you & dump you.
they can never have your best interest at heart.
their only interest had always been how to weaken Russia economy, & not about the welfare of Ukrainians.
zelensky is really a big fool for thinking they had their best interest at heart.

ukraine is winning oooo

I.agine being homeless again after enjoying fr a little TIME

MajesticKris:
I.agine being homeless again after enjoying fr a little TIME

it’s traumatic

It’s not entirely just a west-thing though but more of how cruel life / reality can be, if you rely on others to do your thinking or protect your interests. Ultimately, individual interests will override all other initial obligations.

The exception is where reasonable contributions are made by all stakeholders, and aligned towards a more potent and mutually benefiting cause, which is what the EU is all about. The question is: what has Ukraine brought to the EU with its conflict with Russia, other than serving the interest of the US military industrial complex (not citizens) of weakening Russia, and thereby dragging a reluctant EU into it via NATO.

This conflict has set the EU backwards economically, and they appear to be eager for things to return to normal to avoid further deterioration. I suspect they (EU and others) are trying to ensure that Ukraine doesn’t get too comfortable to continually drag the conflict.

How Zelenski didn’t see this coming is a wonder and will likely become a course of study in political science. Why would any president make Ukraine the arena (grass) for 2 diametrically opposed elephants (US and Russia) to fight?

The only winner here is the US military industrial complex. All others are losers including the US citizens who are now confronted with soaring energy prices and inflation.

donaldking10:
after encouraging them to go to war, now they are driving them out.
the west would use you & dump you.
they can never have your best interest at heart.
their only interest had always been how to weaken Russia economy, & not about the welfare of Ukrainians.
zelensky is really a big fool for thinking they had their best interest at heart.

It's only a matter of time before this countries send them packing

Poland is now demanding more fund from the EU to help Ukraine refugees but same Poland also was part of the EU countries that blocked EU funds for Turkey to help Syria refugees.

How come I thought nato loved Ukraine lol.