German politician Kretschmer opposes German troops' deployment in Ukraine - German Politician Kretschmer Opposes Deployment of German Troops in Ukraine
In the ongoing discussions regarding security guarantees for Ukraine, a crucial player's stance has come to light. Michael Kretschmer, the Minister-President of Saxony, has expressed opposition to German ground troops being deployed in Ukraine.
Kretschmer's concerns are shared by many, as he believes that the Bundeswehr, the German military, is not yet in a position to ensure Ukraine's security. He further clarified that Germany cannot guarantee Ukraine's security, a sentiment that reflects a broader reluctance within German politics to engage with ground troops directly in the conflict.
Current proposals for security guarantees involve a European-led ground force supported by significant US military assets. This combined approach aims to provide a layered defense with Ukrainian troops near a demilitarized zone, neutral peacekeepers patrolling that zone, a European-led deterrence force further inland, and US assets in the rear. However, Russia has explicitly rejected the presence of NATO troops as part of any security guarantees for Ukraine.
The focus in Washington remains on securing reliable security guarantees for Kyiv in the event of a peace agreement. Donald Trump has expressed his expectation for Germany, France, and the UK to be prepared to send soldiers to Ukraine to secure a possible peace. However, Kretschmer's statements suggest that Germany's direct ground troop involvement may not be forthcoming.
The SPD politician Boris Pistorius, the current German Defense Minister, has confirmed that the details of security guarantees for Ukraine are currently under discussion. Germany and its partners are working intensively on the details of reliable security guarantees for Ukraine, but the specifics of a German contribution to these guarantees are still uncertain and will be determined politically and militarily.
Reliable security guarantees are considered a prerequisite for Ukraine to make concessions to Russia in negotiations. As the discussions on security guarantees for Ukraine continue in Berlin, it remains to be seen how Germany will contribute to ensuring peace in Ukraine without committing direct ground troops.
Read also:
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
- Massive 8.8 earthquake hits off the coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, prompting Japan to issue a tsunami alert.
