German politicians support Germany's role in potential mission in Ukraine

Some German politicians, including senior conservatives, have said that Germany should not rule out the participation of its armed forces in a possible mission in Ukraine.

Source: Spiegel, a German weekly news magazine, as reported by European Pravda

Details: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently avoided answering the question, while the Social Democrats' parliamentary group has left the possibility open. However, some German politicians are now discussing whether the Bundeswehr (German defence forces) could help underpin a potential peace deal in Ukraine.

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, chair of the European Parliament's defence committee, has said that Germany has a duty to state clearly that it is ready to contribute to possible peacekeeping efforts in Ukraine.

Quote from Strack-Zimmermann: "Germany, of course, must take part in any possible peacekeeping operations; that should be clear to everyone."

More details: Roderich Kiesewetter, a defence policy expert for the governing the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in the Bundestag (German federal parliament), voiced a similar view but said that such a scenario would only be possible later.

Quote from Kiesewetter: "The question of ground troops will only arise after a ceasefire. Germany, as a self-proclaimed leading nation, should at least not rule anything out in its public statements."

More details: Kiesewetter said that Germany should organise the Coalition of the Willing on a legally sound basis, with "appropriate, broad German participation". He added that forces from the Coalition countries should also be open to contributions from third parties that support NATO and EU positions.

The discussion comes as Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to meet in Paris on Tuesday 6 January with heads of state and government from countries supporting Ukraine to discuss a possible peace deal with Russia. A key element of any agreement is Western military guarantees intended to deter Russia from another attack on Ukraine.

"The meeting must send a clear signal that Europeans take their responsibilities seriously. That is also the clear signal the US administration needs now,"Strack-Zimmermann said of Tuesday's Paris talks.

She said that "the generals of the participating states must clarify what forces the Bundeswehr should provide". She said that there are many options, "including ground troops and air defence and possibly naval forces, provided Türkiye grants access to the Black Sea".

Strack-Zimmermann stated that nothing should be ruled out.

Quote from Strack-Zimmermann: "Many forms of German participation in safeguarding peace are possible."

Background:

• Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that peace in Ukraine could be achieved within the coming weeks.
• Tusk also said that the United States has agreed, as part of security guarantees for Ukraine after a peace deal is reached, to deploy its troops to the Russian-Ukrainian border or the line of contact.
• Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not confirm US readiness for such a step; however, he said that this option is being discussed.

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