Germany agrees for first time to help monitor ceasefire in Ukraine
Photo: Friedrich Merz, German Chancellor (Getty Images)
Germany has agreed to participate in ensuring a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated this at a press conference following the Coalition of the Willing meeting.
He emphasized that Berlin has not committed to sending troops to Ukraine, unlike the United Kingdom and France, but can take part in ensuring a potential ceasefire.
"This new year is beginning exactly the way the old ended – with intensive peace diplomacy for Ukraine," he added.
According to Merz, security guarantees require a combination of two approaches: the deployment of troops in Ukraine and the stationing of additional forces in countries neighboring Ukraine, which could be engaged in the event of new aggression by Russia.
Security guarantees for Ukraine
Today, January 6, a leaders-level meeting of the Coalition of the Willing took place in Paris. Participants discussed forming a joint position for Ukraine, Europe, and the US, as well as the possibility of deploying foreign troops after a ceasefire is established.
Following the meeting, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and France signed a declaration of intent regarding the deployment of forces on Ukrainian territory. This is effectively the first step toward stationing a contingent of Western countries in Ukraine.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also said that military hubs will be established across Ukraine after a ceasefire.
Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US leader Donald Trump, stated that Ukraine and the US have resolved most issues regarding security guarantees.
He said that the security guarantees were developed over the past month in consultations with Ukrainians and Europeans. According to him, today’s Coalition of the Willing meeting marked a "big milestone" in these negotiations.
