On Monday, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius strongly criticized European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s comments about European plans to deploy troops to Ukraine.
Pistorius said that it was “fundamentally wrong” to discuss the troop deployment before Ukraine and Russia hold peace negotiations.
“The European Union has no responsibilities and no competences when it comes to deploying troops — for anyone or for anything,” he said, according to POLITICO. “To discuss this publicly, at this point in time, I consider to be totally wrong.”
Von der Leyen told the Financial Times on Sunday that European capitals are drawing up “pretty precise plans” for a troop deployment to Ukraine as part of a potential peace deal, an idea Moscow has repeatedly rejected. She claimed the idea has the backing of President Trump, who has suggested that the US could provide air support to European troops on the ground.
Pistorius acknowledged that European governments are discussing “what might be possible,” but added that discussing “this publicly, at this point in time, I consider to be totally wrong.”
Russian officials have said that Moscow must be involved in any talks about future security guarantees for Ukraine, and the insistence on a European troop deployment could be what leads to the peace process falling apart.
While Pistorius is being cautious about the peace process, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has made clear that he’s ready for the war to continue indefinitely.
When asked on Sunday if he believes a ceasefire could be reached within a year, he said, “I’m mentally preparing myself for the fact that this war could drag on for a long time. We’re trying to end it as quickly as possible, but certainly not at the price of Ukraine’s capitulation.”
