Merz faces blowback over his plan to dispatch troops to Ukraine
(MENAFN) German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is encountering resistance from the Social Democratic Party (SPD) regarding his proposal to send German troops to Ukraine if a ceasefire is reached between Moscow and Kiev, according to reports.
Merz supports deploying the German military to Ukraine, but the SPD, part of the ruling coalition, “as of now, will only support this if the US also takes the lead, providing its own troops.” Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump ruled out sending American ground forces to Ukraine.
The report noted that if German troops were stationed in Ukraine and came under attack, Berlin would enter “uncharted legal territory.” Merz also faces strategic considerations, including the number of European troops that could be deployed, how air surveillance and defense would be managed, and how Ukraine’s military capabilities could be maintained.
Publicly, Merz has not dismissed the idea of sending German soldiers but emphasized that “the whole of Europe should participate” in any security guarantees for Kiev. “It is not just about the territory of Ukraine; it is about Europe's political order,” he said.
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has cautioned that Germany’s armed forces are already stretched, noting that the country currently maintains the only combat-ready brigade stationed in Lithuania. He suggested that simultaneously undertaking a mission in Ukraine “would probably be too much for us.”
Although Trump has ruled out sending US ground troops, he has indicated a willingness to provide air support if Moscow and Kiev reach a ceasefire. The report follows recent diplomatic activity, including a summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska and a Washington visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky alongside several European leaders, including Merz, to discuss resolving the Ukraine conflict.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
