Germany’s Pistorius suggests possible peacekeeping role in Ukraine

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has not ruled out the possibility of German peacekeepers being deployed to Ukraine but emphasized that such a mission would not happen while the conflict continues.

In an interview with Funke Media Group, Pistorius clarified that until the war is over, there will be no German soldiers on Ukrainian soil, per Caliber.Az.

He stated that the issue could be revisited only once a ceasefire is in place, or peace has been achieved, and the specifics of any peace agreement are clear.

Pistorius explained that decisions regarding the nature of peacekeeping, such as whether a demarcation line, buffer zone, or peacekeeping force would be needed, must be discussed and agreed upon by both Ukraine and Russia with the involvement of a third party. “There are still too many open questions to make definitive statements on the matter,” he said.

However, the minister also pointed out that Germany, as Europe’s largest NATO member and economy, could not afford to remain passive in the broader context of peace efforts.

Earlier, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock hinted at the possibility of Germany contributing peacekeepers in the event of a ceasefire, suggesting that security guarantees, including NATO membership, could accompany an international presence to enforce the ceasefire. She reiterated that Germany would “support with all its might” any initiatives aimed at achieving peace.

In related developments, the Washington Post reported that European allies of Ukraine are considering sending troops only after a peace treaty is signed between Ukraine and Russia. According to the publication, several European countries are discussing the formation of a military force to act as a deterrent to Russia and ensure the maintenance of a ceasefire. However, this military presence would likely not operate under the NATO flag due to the need for consensus within the alliance.

In February, French President Emmanuel Macron also acknowledged that discussions about sending Western ground troops to Ukraine had occurred during a meeting in Paris with representatives from around 20 Western countries. While no consensus was reached, he stated that such an option could not be ruled out in the future. In response, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that the presence of foreign military forces in Ukraine would have severe consequences, potentially escalating the conflict to dangerous levels.

By Tamilla Hasanova