Due to talks about Ukraine in Washington, the discussion on the participation of German soldiers in ensuring the sustainability of a possible peace-making solution is gaining momentum. The German Government stressed that a situation in which it would only be a temporary interruption lasting respective years should be prevented. "Therefore Ukraine needs, of course, solid safety guarantees".
"The question of the circumstantial form of specified a solution is highly complicated," said Steffen Meyer, deputy spokesperson for the government in Berlin. It is political and method issues that "must be discussed in a very concrete way".
Even before the talks of the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenski with the president of the United States Donald Trump, abroad Minister Johann Wadeful in the podcast "Table.Today" expressed skepticism about sending German soldiers to Ukraine. He pointed to the increased function of the Bundeswehr in NATO, including the combat brigade – about 5,000 soldiers – presently stationed in Lithuania. The start of activities in Ukraine could "probably exceed German capabilities" - said the CDU politician. Later, during his visit to Tokyo, he explained that it is not yet clear whether German troops will be dispatched. "This truly requires negotiations," he added.
Strategic trap
For months now, military planners and scientists have been working on the concepts of securing a possible fresh chapter in the war in Ukraine, which can include both the ceasefire and the peace treaty. From a political point of view, this scope covers both the actual control of territories and the binding withdrawal of territories under global law.
One of the concerns of military planners is that Russia's president Vladimir Putin could pull the European NATO states into a strategical trap. Since the creation of protective forces for Ukraine – in which the Bundeswehr could participate as much as another European NATO armies – would require the unveiling of part of the east flank of the alliance, the Baltic countries.
Signalling force may uncover weakness
The discipline and Policy Foundation (SWP) of Berlin analysed safety models in February in the event of a possible ceasefire in Ukraine. safety investigator at Berlin think tank, Claudia Major, wrote at the time that so far there are no coherent concepts on this issue.
"The measures that Europeans can offer ad hoc would not supply reliable protection," she said in her analysis. In order to guarantee a dissuasive effect, it would be essential to "additional Western contingent forces of around 150,000 soldiers". The expert warns: "The approach of the 'blef and pray' type, consisting in sending besides tiny armed forces and based mainly on the hope that Russia will not test their effectiveness, would be reckless and would increase the likelihood of a war in Europe."
For this reason and in order to guarantee military credibility, it rapidly became clear that without the participation of the United States this could not be achieved. Germany has besides put forward military reinforcement of Ukraine and its ability to defend itself. As this is what Europeans are all about, Russia cannot push forward with demands that weaken Ukraine militarily. This besides applies to the resignation of territories, in which Russia receives lands outside the extended front line, thereby destroying Ukraine's defensive positions extended over the years.
The debate is temporing
In Germany and Europe, public debate has long been in place. This would not be the first case in safety policy erstwhile something seems distant and then abruptly becomes reality. The discussion hits a delicate point. Germany as a leading power in Europe must besides participate in ensuring safety for a peaceful solution, "especially if they have American support provided in this", said CDU politician Roderich Kiesewetter for the portal "Focus Online".
The SPD abroad policy politician Adis Ahmetović in an interview with the weekly "Spiegel" openly admitted that the Bundeswehr could participate in a later peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, while his organization colleague Ralf Stegner was against it.
AfD's head, Alice Weidel, warned on X that Germany could themselves become the mark of attacks if the US withdrew, and appealed, "Germany needs an agreement in relations with Russia alternatively of a continuous confrontation".
On the another hand, Left organization leader Jan van Aken proposed as a safety warrant for Ukraine a UN peacekeeping mission of between 30,000 and 40,000 soldiers. "It would be crucial for China to participate in the mission, as Russian soldiers would not shoot Chinese," said van Aken in Berlin. In the case of Germany's participation in the mission, he would feel "discomfort for historical reasons", as German troops would again be "right under Stalingrad".
