Merz wants to help secure Ukraine ceasefire

Paris (dpa) - Germany’s Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz has raised the prospect of German military participation in securing a possible ceasefire in Ukraine. “This could for example include deploying forces to Ukraine on neighbouring NATO territory after a ceasefire,” he said following a meeting in Paris of those Ukrainian allies that have joined forces in the “Coalition of the Willing”.

“The government and the German Bundestag must and will decide on the nature and extent of a German contribution once the conditions have been clarified,” said Merz. He also did not rule out stationing Bundeswehr soldiers in Ukraine.

In a joint declaration at the Paris summit, Ukraine’s Western supporters have promised binding security guarantees for the country.

“We stand ready to commit to a system of politically and legally binding guarantees that will be activated once a ceasefire enters into force,” European Council President António Costa announced after the talks. “These commitments may include the use of military capabilities,” stated the joint declaration. The USA pledged the coalition its support at the Paris summit and, according to the final declaration, will play a key role in monitoring a peace agreement.