{"id":637061,"date":"2025-12-17T00:39:18","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T00:39:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/637061\/"},"modified":"2025-12-17T00:39:18","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T00:39:18","slug":"germany-open-to-sending-soldiers-to-ukraine-for-european-led-multinational-force-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/637061\/","title":{"rendered":"Germany open to sending soldiers to Ukraine for European-led multinational force"},"content":{"rendered":"

BERLIN <\/strong><\/p>\n

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday did not rule out the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine as part of a European-led multinational force to secure a peace agreement.<\/p>\n

In an interview with public broadcaster ZDF, Merz evaded the question of whether German Armed Forces would participate in such a mission.<\/p>\n

He said that the Coalition of the Willing included not only European countries, but also Canada, Australia and other nations. \u201cIf it ever comes to that, it will be a ceasefire agreement with Russia,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

After two days of negotiations with Ukraine and the US in Berlin on Sunday and Monday, several European countries spoke out in favor of a European-led \u201cmultinational force for Ukraine.\u201d The European-led and US-backed force is intended to support the Ukrainian armed forces and ensure the security of airspace and seas.<\/p>\n

Putin will eventually say \u2018yes\u2019 to foreign troop deployment<\/strong><\/p>\n

In response to the interviewer’s objection that Russian President Vladimir Putin rejects the deployment of foreign troops in Ukraine, Merz replied, \u201cPutin has said \u2018nyet\u2019 (no) to many things, but at some point he will also have to say \u2018yes.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

The chancellor reiterated that the Ukraine talks in Berlin had brought progress.<\/p>\n

While Merz spoke of a possible demilitarized zone to separate the conflicting parties in Ukraine, he also pointed to Russia\u2019s continued opposition to a ceasefire.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have seen from Russia’s reaction that this will not mean an end to the war. We must continue to work together. We must continue to support Ukraine together,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Chances for EU deal on frozen Russian assets \u2018fifty-fifty’<\/strong><\/p>\n

The German leader expressed reservations when asked whether this week’s EU summit would be able to agree on the use of frozen Russian state assets for the benefit of Ukraine.<\/p>\n

Merz said the chances of an agreement were \u201cfifty-fifty.\u201d He again called for a \u201cclear European stance toward Russia.\u201d<\/p>\n

Whether Russian assets frozen in the EU, amounting to hundreds of billions of euros, should be used to support Ukraine is at the center of the EU summit, at which 27 heads of state and government will meet in Brussels starting Thursday.<\/p>\n

He expressed an understanding of Belgium’s reservations, saying, \u201cI don’t share them, but I take them seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n


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