Around 1,300 refugees from Ukraine arrived at Berlin Central Station on several trains from Poland on Tuesday evening.

A railway spokesman said it was regular connections.

Helpers provided the people at the station with food and drink.

Since Sunday, Deutsche Bahn has made it possible for refugees with a Ukrainian passport or identity card to use all long-distance trains from Poland to Germany free of charge.

Up to eight Eurocity long-distance trains run regularly from Poland to Germany every day – all via the Frankfurt/Oder border crossing.

So far, around 5,000 war refugees from Ukraine have been registered in Germany, said Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser on Tuesday evening on the ZDF program "Markus Lanz".

"Of course we will take in those who come to Germany." It is currently not possible to say how many Ukrainians will seek refuge in this country.

Many Ukrainians are staying with relatives and friends.

Since there are no border controls at the internal EU borders, the number of refugees who have entered Germany can actually be significantly higher.

Most refugees from Ukraine are currently in Poland and other neighboring countries.

Refugees must be housed

The Federal Ministry of the Interior is currently inquiring about existing reception and accommodation capacities that can be activated at short notice from the federal states, the Ministry of Defense and the Federal Agency for Real Estate Tasks.

In addition, a spokesman for Faeser's ministry quoted the "Rheinische Post" as saying that "solutions in the real estate sector" should be found in the medium and long term.

According to the newspaper, border states in Germany have signaled their willingness to receive refugees, but at the same time are demanding that the federal government finance the accommodation for refugees.

“The reception of the refugees from the Ukraine must now be regulated quickly and easily.

That's why we need clarity about the residence status and the federal government to assume the costs," said Brandenburg Interior Minister Michael Stübgen (CDU).

Funding for the reception of refugees must be guaranteed.

“The best way is for the federal government to assume the costs, as was already the case in 2015.”

EU to determine “mass influx” for the first time

Federal Minister of the Interior Faeser spoke out in favor of quickly enacting a regulation at EU level in the event of a “mass influx” of people.

“We are using the legal basis that was created after the Balkan wars for the first time.

On Thursday we want to formally decide this in the Council of EU Interior Ministers," said the SPD politician of the "Rheinische Post".

This means that the same, unbureaucratic procedure for taking in war refugees will be created in all EU member states.

“Refugees from Ukraine do not have to go through an asylum procedure.

You will receive temporary protection in the EU for up to three years," said the minister.

"We will now regulate as quickly as possible that there will also be health insurance protection and access to the labor market in Germany for war refugees from Ukraine."