Merz faces antagonism over Ukraine troop strategy
(MENAFN) German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is encountering opposition from the Social Democratic Party (SPD) regarding his plan to send German troops to Ukraine if a ceasefire is reached between Moscow and Kiev, according to Bild. While Merz supports a German military presence, the SPD has stated it will only back the deployment if the United States also participates with its own forces. US President Donald Trump has already ruled out sending American ground troops to Ukraine.
Bild highlighted legal and strategic challenges for Berlin, including potential attacks on stationed troops, the number of European forces to deploy, air surveillance and defense, and maintaining Ukraine’s military capabilities.
Merz has publicly stated that European countries should collectively contribute to security guarantees for Ukraine, framing it as an issue affecting Europe’s political order, not just Ukrainian territory. However, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul cautioned that Germany’s military is already stretched, with only one combat-ready brigade currently deployed in Lithuania, making a mission in Ukraine potentially unfeasible.
Although Trump will not send US ground forces, he indicated a willingness to provide air support if a peace agreement is reached. The report follows the Alaska summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as Washington talks with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and European leaders, including Merz, aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict. Russia has warned that any NATO or Western troop presence in Ukraine would be entirely unacceptable.
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