Merz says Russian Federation must agree to send German peacekeepers to Ukraine

The dispatch of German military personnel to Ukraine as part of the conflict settlement should be carried out with Russia's approval. The Die Zeit newspaper wrote about this on December 28, citing Friedrich Merz, a candidate for the post of German chancellor and leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).

"When it comes to making peace and if Ukraine needs security guarantees, this could be discussed provided there is an unconditional mandate from the citizens... I would like such a mandate in this case to be agreed with Moscow and not implemented against it," Merz said.

However, the politician added that a ceasefire in Ukraine was still far away. At the same time, he did not express unequivocal support for the decision to send Bundeswehr servicemen to Ukraine.

Scholz's visit to Kyiv and prospects for peace in Ukraine. What the media say

Earlier, on December 5, Merz criticized the statement of German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock on sending German peacekeeping forces to Ukraine.

On the same day, Berbock said at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels that a German peacekeeping contingent could be sent to Ukraine after the conflict ends to further resolve the situation. She also explained that "an international presence to enforce the ceasefire" could be considered alongside security guarantees for Ukraine in the form of NATO membership.

At the same time, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said at a speech in the Bundestag that Germany would not send its troops to Ukraine in the current situation.

Western countries have stepped up military and financial support for Kiev amid Russia's special operation to protect Donbass, which Putin announced on February 24, 2022, after the situation in the region worsened due to shelling by the Ukrainian military.