According to Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing, the federal government "cannot and will not" reject any refugees from Ukraine.
The FDP politician told the newspapers of the editorial network Germany.
The number of people fleeing to Germany by train has now fallen significantly compared to the peak at the beginning of the war, "from 8,200 to currently around 2,500 people per day".
Wissing emphasized: "However, we are maintaining the logistics and transport structures because we cannot predict the course of the war and can experience an increase in the number of refugees at any time." Germany must "expect a further escalation and be prepared.
People in need in Ukraine should be able to find refuge in Germany.”
"It is correct that we have maintained our rail transport capacities and also made preparations for airlifts," Wissing confirmed.
Shortage of truck drivers
However, road transport is severely affected by the Ukraine war, since many truck drivers have enlisted in the Ukrainian army.
In Poland alone, around 100,000 Ukrainian truck drivers were missing because they had been called up for military service.
“That is 37 percent of all truck drivers in Poland.
That's why it was so important to me to build a rail bridge to the Ukraine.
In this way, large quantities of relief supplies can be transported with little staff.”
The shortage of skilled workers in Poland, in turn, has an impact on Germany.
"The situation in the logistics sector is particularly tense as a result of the war." However, the industry is also suffering from the high energy costs and urgently needs support.
"The supply chains are severely affected," Wissing told the RND.