Until a Ceasefire in Ukraine is Reached, No Western Troops Will Be Deployed: Merz

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stated that there can be no talk of sending Western troops until a ceasefire is established in Ukraine. “Until that time, no troops will be sent to Ukraine,” he said in an interview with Sat.1.

According to him, even if a ceasefire is achieved, it would be possible for Germany only with “significant reservations,” and there are many obstacles along the way. He added that, in any case, Germany has no plans to conduct a military mission in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the chancellor noted that decisions about providing military assistance to Ukraine fall under the jurisdiction of the so-called “coalition of volunteers,” but not the European Commission.

Earlier, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated in an interview with the Financial Times that Europe has a “fairly accurate plan” for deploying troops in Ukraine to ensure security guarantees following a ceasefire. Her statement was met with sharp criticism from German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who emphasized that it is fundamentally wrong to discuss such matters before negotiations begin.