German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has left open the possibility of the Bundeswehr participating in a possible multinational peacekeeping force in Ukraine, signaling a cautious shift in Berlin’s tone on post-war engagement. Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil has echoed the same sentiment. Asked directly in an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF, Merz avoided a definitive answer, but stressed that the so-called “Alliance of the Willing” also includes countries outside Europe, such as Canada and Australia. Commenting on Russia’s opposition to the deployment of foreign troops in Ukraine, he said that “Vladimir Putin has said no to many things, but in the end he will have to say yes when it comes to ending this war.”
"The current discussion is about the period after the end of the war. Ukraine will need protection," the chancellor stressed, explaining that peacekeeping forces are just one of several commitments that various states are considering in the event of a ceasefire. Berlin's position was also reflected in the joint declaration signed after the Berlin summit by the leaders of France, Great Britain, Poland, Italy, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, as well as by European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
For his part, Vice Chancellor Klingbeil called for caution, stressing that one should not “put the cart before the horse”. In an interview with the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung, he underlined that Germany, as one of Ukraine’s biggest supporters, will always fulfill its responsibilities. According to Klingbeil, the key question remains how Russian President Vladimir Putin will react. “The ball is now in his court, but I still have doubts about whether and to what extent he really wants peace,” he added, stressing the Kremlin’s responsibility for the daily victims of war.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius also spoke in restrained tones, describing the European offer as a “recognition of shared responsibility,” but adding that its concrete content will only become clear after it is seen how Moscow will react. Recent statements show that Germany is preparing for different scenarios after a possible ceasefire, but without yet making a final decision on sending troops to Ukraine.
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