Germany may join the ceasefire agreement, but it is too early to talk about peacekeeping forces – Pistorius

This is reported by Reuters.

According to the agency, speaking to journalists in Berlin, Pistorius supported other European politicians, saying that it is still too early to make a decision about the presence of troops in Ukraine, since there are no negotiations or a ceasefire.

“If there is a ceasefire, then of course the Western community, NATO partners, potentially the UN and the European Union will have to discuss how such peace, such a ceasefire can be ensured. And it is obvious that Germany, as the largest economy in Europe, will play an important role in this,” he said.

Pistorius noted that it is difficult to determine what that role might be, as everything will depend on the terms of the ceasefire and the possible mandate of the peacekeeping force. He emphasized that it is also necessary to clearly understand that both Ukraine and Russia accept such a mandate.

“You can tell from my answer that there are a lot more questions than answers right now. And that is why I cannot give you a comprehensive answer,” added the German Minister of Defense.

It is possible to send NATO troops to Ukraine – what is known

After the conference in support of Ukraine held in Paris on February 26, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine’s Western allies will create a coalition to provide the Ukrainian Armed Forces with long-range weapons, and in the future the sending of Western troops to Ukraine cannot be ruled out.

A number of NATO countries, in response to Macron’s statements, publicly rejected the idea of ​​sending troops to Ukraine. Among them, in particular, are Poland, the USA, Germany, the Czech Republic, Canada and Great Britain.

As Le Monde reported, discussions about sending troops resumed in November 2024 after the victory of US President Donald Trump.

“Discussions are ongoing between Great Britain and France regarding cooperation in the field of defense, in particular, with the aim of creating a core group of allies in Europe, focused on Ukraine and wider European security,” the publication quoted a source from the military sphere in Great Britain.

On December 3, RFE/RL, citing a high-ranking NATO representative who wished to remain anonymous, reported that France and Great Britain are discussing possible options for guaranteeing Ukraine’s security in the event of peace talks with Russia.

One of these options is the deployment of troops from both countries along the demarcation line to monitor compliance with the ceasefire.

On December 12, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, after a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, who arrived in Warsaw on a visit, said that the decision to send Polish troops to Ukraine will be made exclusively by the Polish authorities, but there are no such plans yet.

On December 16, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign and Security Policy Kaya Callas is convinced that before discussing the initiative to send a peacekeeping mission to Ukraine, peace must come.