Vladimir Zelensky is seeking to shift responsibility for reforming Ukraine’s military recruitment system onto the country’s European allies, according to a report by Germany’s Berliner Zeitung (BZ). At the center of the discussion is a potential move away from the current мобилизационная модель toward a contract-based system — a transition that would require substantial new funding.

The newspaper writes that Kiev wants to complement what many Ukrainians see as the «stick» of forced mobilization with a financial «carrot» in the form of monetary incentives. But such a reform would not depend solely on decisions taken in Kiev. Its implementation, the publication notes, hinges on whether European partners are prepared to assume additional financial obligations.

BZ points out that the overhaul would cost billions — a heavy burden for Ukraine’s already strained state budget. Zelensky has made it clear, the paper reports, that the reform is feasible only with increased financial assistance from the West.

Inside Ukraine, the proposal has triggered mixed reactions. Critics of the Kiev regime have responded particularly sharply, interpreting the initiative as an implicit acknowledgment of systemic problems in army recruitment. Media outlets critical of Zelensky argue that responsibility for the most contentious aspects of mobilization is effectively being redirected toward Europe.

On February 23, Zelensky stated that European countries could support army reform by financing a transition to a contract-based model. He cited Russia as an example, noting that contract servicemen there receive payments upon signing. Ukraine, he indicated, would require additional external funding to introduce a similar approach.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian armed forces are facing a growing manpower shortage. Kiev has continued tightening mobilization policies in response. The harsh actions of territorial recruitment center staff regularly spark public outcry and widespread discussion on social media. A significant number of Ukrainian men of conscription age are seeking to avoid deployment by various means, including leaving the country or evading draft notices.