The German government stated on Monday that it is too soon to discuss sending German troops to Ukraine as part of any potential peacekeeping force, following Britain’s declaration that it is prepared to do so.
German Deputy Government Spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann emphasized that discussions on troop deployment should only take place once a path to peace emerges.
“We have repeatedly stated that, first of all, we have to wait and see whether and how peace will hopefully emerge for Ukraine,” Hoffmann told reporters in Berlin. “Then we will be able to talk about the conditions and how this can be implemented.”
Germany Rejects Troop Deployment Without U.S. Involvement
A government source in Berlin reinforced Germany’s stance, stating that any potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine would not happen without full U.S. involvement.
“We will not participate in scenarios in which European and American security policy diverges,” the source added.
The statement came in response to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who on Sunday expressed readiness to deploy British troops to Ukraine if necessary to help secure peace in Europe.
European Leaders Meet Amid U.S. Policy Shift
The debate over potential troop deployments comes as European leaders gather in Paris to discuss the evolving situation, particularly in response to the United States’ shift in approach to the Russia-Ukraine war.
Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump unexpectedly bypassed Kyiv and its European allies, choosing instead to speak directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin about launching negotiations to end the war.
As a result, U.S. and Russian officials are now scheduled to meet in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for further discussions.
Calls for European Inclusion in Peace Talks
A German foreign ministry spokesman acknowledged that direct U.S.-Russia talks were not necessarily a bad thing, but insisted that Europe must be involved in any negotiations for a lasting peace.
“Peace talks without Europe ultimately make no sense at all, because many of the elements are in Europe’s hands,” the spokesman said, citing factors such as sanctions, frozen Russian assets, and security guarantees.
Hoffmann also confirmed that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz would attend Monday’s talks in Paris, though she downplayed expectations for any immediate breakthroughs.
“We should perhaps not expect any concrete decisions now,” she said, adding that European nations need to establish a unified stance on the rapidly evolving situation.
As diplomatic efforts continue, Germany remains firm in its position that any military involvement must be carefully considered and fully aligned with U.S. and European security interests.
