Germany will not force Ukrainians in the country to be drafted into the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Marco Buschmann, German Federal Minister of Justice, has stressed.

"Since our constitution stipulates that German citizens do not have to serve in the armed forces against their will, I cannot imagine that we can force people from other countries to do so," Buschmann said as reported by Deutsche Welle.

The minister added that if the Ukrainian authorities decide to conscript men who have left the country, this will have no practical consequences for Ukrainians living in Germany.

"It will not be the case that we force people to do compulsory military service or military service against their will," Buschmann noted.

German TV news channel Welt, citing Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umierov's interviews with WELT TV, Bild and Politico, noted that Ukrainian men aged 25-60 living in Germany and other countries must report to the Ukrainian Armed Forces recruitment offices next year, otherwise they will face sanctions.

Later, the Ukrainian MoD clarified that Minister Rustem Umierov is urging all Ukrainians to enlist in the armed forces, although the issue of punishment or legal pressure on men outside Ukraine is not currently being considered.