Ukraine's safety links to our own security, claims Strak-Zimmerman in the interview
In a significant development, European leaders recently met with US President Donald Trump in Washington to assert their place at the negotiating table on the Ukraine issue. The most important interim result of the meeting was the discussion about security guarantees for Ukraine.
Dr. Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann MEP, the Chair of the Defense Committee of the European Parliament and leader of the FDP delegation in the European Parliament, emphasized the need for Europe to take concrete action in helping Ukraine, not just providing financial aid. She suggested that funds frozen in Europe belonging to Russia should be fully utilized for the reconstruction in Ukraine, which probably means sending European troops as protection. Germany may be expected to send soldiers as part of this mission.
Strack-Zimmermann also highlighted the importance of a military internal market in Europe to reduce bureaucracy and speed up the transport of military material. She argued that Europe should aim to have at least 70 to 75 percent of military equipment be European, particularly in the areas of cyber defense, reconnaissance, and precision capabilities.
The joint appearance of the Europeans in Washington was important and probably impressed Trump. However, the current concept for the stationing of European troops in Ukraine, which Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is to present, has not been specifically detailed or located within the available search results.
Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz has changed his mind on the condition of a ceasefire as a prerequisite for further talks. If a buffer zone is to be formed, the sole task of preventing Putin from attacking again may fall on European troops. Strack-Zimmermann criticized the "groveling before Trump" and the discussion about the clothing style of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
It's worth noting that Europe is not the main actor in the Ukraine conflict, but the war is taking place in Europe and affects European security. Strack-Zimmermann expects Defense Minister Boris Pistorius to present a concept for securing the Ukrainian border with Russian territory or establishing a buffer zone with other European partners.
The German government should answer and explain to the people the implications of providing "security guarantees" to Ukraine, including potential deployment of German troops. Strack-Zimmermann argued that the argument that seizing frozen Russian assets would harm the European money market is considered nonsense.
If Ukraine cannot become a member of NATO, it may be given security guarantees analogous to the promise of assistance in Article 5 of the NATO treaty. Europe is at its limit with weapons deliveries, but it is not fundamentally wrong if European states buy air defense systems in the USA and pass them on to Ukraine.
In conclusion, the meeting in Washington marked a significant step towards strengthening Europe's role in ensuring security for Ukraine. The discussions focused on the need for concrete action, the creation of a military internal market, and the potential deployment of European troops. As the situation evolves, it is crucial for the German government to keep the public informed about the implications of these decisions.
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