Western troops not to be sent to Ukraine until ceasefire, says Germany’s Chancellor Merz

Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stated that there can be no discussion of sending Western troops to Ukraine until a ceasefire is established, Merz told Sat.1.

“No troops will be sent to Ukraine until that moment,” he said.

Merz added that even if a ceasefire is achieved, sending troops would be possible for Germany only “with serious reservations,” as there are “many obstacles” in the way. He noted that Germany currently has no plans to carry out a military mission in Ukraine.

At the same time, the chancellor noted that decisions regarding military aid to Ukraine fall under the authority of the so-called coalition of volunteers, not the European Commission.

Earlier, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the Financial Times that Europe has a “fairly precise plan” for stationing troops in Ukraine after a ceasefire, within the framework of providing security guarantees.