No plans to send NATO or EU troops to Ukraine, say German and Italian leaders

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has confirmed that the deployment of NATO or European Union military personnel to Ukraine is not being considered.

Speaking after a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Merz said that there is no decision or ongoing discussion regarding the sending of troops from NATO or EU countries to Ukraine, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

“This issue is completely outside the political context, and there is no reason to talk about it. Our current focus is on working towards a ceasefire,” he said.

Prime Minister Meloni echoed this stance, recalling her longstanding scepticism toward the idea, which was originally proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron and supported by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Macron and Starmer had formed a so-called “coalition of the willing,” holding two meetings that included Merz, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. These discussions reportedly involved phone calls with former US President Donald Trump. Meloni did not take part in this initiative, stating clearly that Rome “is not ready and will not send any troops.”

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Western countries have provided Kyiv with significant military, financial, and humanitarian aid, while stopping short of direct military involvement. The idea of deploying NATO troops on Ukrainian soil has been a contentious and sensitive issue, as it risks escalating the conflict into a broader war between NATO and Russia.

French President Macron and UK Prime Minister Starmer’s proposal aimed to create a “coalition of the willing” to provide more direct military support, including potential troop deployments. However, several key European leaders, including Germany and Italy, have expressed caution, emphasising diplomatic efforts and negotiations for a ceasefire over further military escalation.

By Khagan Isayev