German defence minister rebukes EU chief for premature Ukraine security remarks

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has voiced strong criticism of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s recent remarks concerning potential security guarantees for Ukraine, stating that such discussions should not be made public ahead of formal negotiations.

Pistorius took issue with von der Leyen’s suggestion that the European Union might play a role in providing military security assurances to Kyiv, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

"It is fundamentally wrong to discuss this publicly before the start of negotiations," Pistorius said, expressing concern over the premature disclosure of sensitive strategic matters.

The Defence Minister emphasized the limitations of the European Union's powers in this context, stating: "The European Union does not have the authority or competence to deploy troops – regardless of who or what – I would refrain from confirming or commenting on such considerations in any way."

Pistorius added that while internal discussions on Ukraine’s long-term security are indeed ongoing among allies, making public statements at this stage is "inappropriate." His remarks appear aimed at maintaining a cautious and coordinated approach among EU and NATO members as diplomatic channels continue to explore long-term frameworks for supporting Ukraine’s defence needs.

By Vafa Guliyeva