Germany May Deploy Troops to Ukraine After the War Ends
A German lawmaker has suggested that Germany should not rule out sending troops to Ukraine after the war ends. Roderich Kiesewetter, a member of the opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU), made this comment on January 3.
Kiesewetter’s remarks come as other countries consider sending troops to monitor a potential ceasefire in Ukraine. The UK and France are reportedly considering such a move, and US President-elect Donald Trump’s peace plan includes proposals for European states to deploy military personnel to Ukraine.
Germany has a responsibility to contribute significantly to European security and peacekeeping efforts due to its status as Europe‘s largest economy, Kiesewetter argued. He warned against dismissing the possibility of Germany deploying troops to Ukraine, saying that the country must be ready to intervene with well-equipped troops at the appropriate time.
Any German peacekeeping involvement would need to occur under joint EU and NATO frameworks to ensure operational effectiveness and align with existing European security structures, Kiesewetter noted. A peacekeeping force is effective and realistic if integrated into NATO, he said, as the nuclear umbrella would extend to Ukraine.
Friedrich Merz, the CDU/CSU alliance‘s chancellor candidate, has also commented on Germany’s potential role in peacekeeping in Ukraine. He said that Germany could join a peacekeeping mission but only with Russia’s consent and noted the necessity of a clear international legal mandate for German participation in such operations.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Ukraine would only consider foreign peacekeepers if it secures a clear timeline for NATO membership. Ukrainian officials maintain that NATO membership is essential for lasting peace, although full membership is unlikely amid the ongoing war.