Western troops in Ukraine could push back Russia if ceasefire broken, German Chancellor says
Photo: Western troops in Ukraine may resist Russia in the event of a ceasefire violation (Getty Images)
Provided that the US and Europe guarantee their security, Western peacekeepers may use force against the Russian army in the event of a violation of the ceasefire in Ukraine, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says in an interview with ZDF.
According to the Chancellor, recent talks in Berlin have shown significant progress. In particular, this refers to the willingness of the US, together with its European partners, to provide Ukraine with security guarantees that are similar in content to the provisions of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Alliance.
"The fact that the Americans have made such a commitment, that is, to defend Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire, as if it were NATO territory, I think is a wonderful new position for the United States," he says.
He emphasizes that in the event of new Russian attacks, the West would not stand aside and would respond to the aggression.
"We will ensure a demilitarized zone between the warring parties, and, to be very specific, we will also act against any Russian incursions and attacks. We have not reached that point yet," the Chancellor stresses.
Commenting on the statements of Vladimir Putin, who denies the possibility of foreign troops being deployed on Ukrainian territory, Merz notes that despite numerous refusals, the Kremlin leader will ultimately have to agree to the decisions necessary to end the war.
"Putin has said 'no' to many things, but at some point, he will have to say 'yes' when it comes to ending this war. This is the time after the end of this war that we are talking about now, and Ukraine needs protection for this time after it," Merz says.
Foreign troops in Ukraine
Kyiv and its partners are considering the introduction of foreign troops into Ukraine as a security guarantee, which will be possible after the end of the war.
Talks about the introduction of foreign troops into Ukraine began after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Washington.
A number of Ukraine's allies have already agreed to send their troops to Ukraine. These include the United Kingdom, France, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, the Baltic states, the Netherlands, and Australia.
Yesterday, it was reported that the Coalition of the Willing had prepared plans to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities and, if necessary, deploy troops on Ukrainian territory.
