Merz says sending ground troops to Ukraine not on table yet
Photo: Friedrich Merz (Getty Images)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that the issue of sending ground troops is not on the agenda for now, according to his interview with ZDF.
As the Chancellor notes, discussions now focus on security guarantees in the event of a ceasefire. Only after that “many things” can be implemented.
“Nobody is talking about ground troops in Ukraine at this point,” Merz said.
When asked whether he hopes to achieve a ceasefire next year, the German Chancellor answered:
“I'm not giving up hope that we can achieve it. But I'm not harboring any illusions either,” Merz stated.
Yesterday, the German Chancellor also said that the war in Ukraine could last many more months. At the same time, Ukraine’s partners are ready to continue supporting the country during the full-scale war.
Security guarantees for Ukraine
On the night of August 16, US President Donald Trump and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin held a summit in Alaska. The key topic of the meeting was the war in Ukraine, particularly how to end it.
After the summit, both leaders made several statements. Putin mentioned that Russia understands Ukraine must also have security guarantees.
On August 18, Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several European officials at the White House. They discussed ways to end the war, including security guarantees.
Trump repeatedly said he is ready to provide guarantees but stressed that the US will not send troops to Ukraine. However, according to The Telegraph, he is considering deploying American private military contractors in Ukraine. Publicly, Trump also said that Europe would provide the military presence, with Washington’s support.
As for the Europeans, The Telegraph wrote yesterday that earlier discussions mentioned sending 30,000 European troops. However, according to one source, they have likely reduced that figure due to the decision driven by resource constraints and concerns about provoking Moscow
Security guarantees reportedly include three key elements - protection in the air, at sea, and on land. The first two appear to be moving forward, while the last one remains unclear, given Merz’s latest remarks.
Recently, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy outlined three main blocks of security guarantees: maintaining Ukraine’s army, cooperation with NATO countries, and sanctions against Russia.
