Pistorius outlines Germany’s possible role in Ukraine peace mission
Photo: German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Germany is likely to play a role in ensuring a future ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine. However, it is currently unclear what the peacekeeping forces might look like, states German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, according to Reuters.
In particular, Pistorius supported other European politicians, stating that it is still too early to decide on the presence of troops in Ukraine, as there are neither negotiations nor a ceasefire.
"If there is a ceasefire, then of course the Western community, NATO partners, potentially the United Nations and the European Union will have to discuss how such a peace, such a ceasefire can be secured. And it is obvious that Germany as Europe's biggest economy would play a role there," he said.
According to him, it is necessary for both Ukraine and Russia to approve the mandate for peacekeepers, including German ones.
"From my response, you can tell that there are far more questions than answers right now. And that's why I cannot give you a conclusive answer," he added.
European peacekeepers in Ukraine
Discussions on the possibility of a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine are ongoing. French President Emmanuel Macron previously proposed the idea of deploying European troops on Ukrainian territory as part of a peacekeeping mission if the conflict is frozen.
At the same time, Italy's Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the participation of Italian soldiers in such a mission would only be possible after the end of hostilities. They also emphasized the need to ensure reliable security guarantees for Ukraine.
Recently, Politico revealed details of a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders, scheduled for December 18. One of the topics on the agenda will be the peacekeeping mission in Ukraine.
