Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD) has promised to take in refugees from Ukraine regardless of their nationality.
"We want to save lives.
It doesn't depend on the passport," Faeser told the "Bild am Sonntag".
“The vast majority of refugees are Ukrainians.
People from other countries who already had permanent residency rights in Ukraine bring this status with them,” she said.
“They don’t have to go through a complex asylum procedure either.
For example, we see that young Indians who have studied in Ukraine want to return home quickly.”
Faeser called the European cooperation in the care of Ukrainian refugees “historic”.
“For the first time, all EU countries are taking in war refugees together.
I hope that this solidarity will also help us with the next steps towards a common asylum system," said Faeser.
In order to offer the Ukrainians the most unbureaucratic protection possible, the European Union put a directive into force for the first time on Friday for the case of a "mass influx" of displaced persons.
The protection for people from Ukraine is therefore initially valid for one year, but can be extended by a total of two more years.
A lengthy asylum procedure is not necessary.
Those seeking protection have a direct right to social benefits, education, housing and a work permit.