Roderich Kiesewetter, of the opposition Christian Democratic Union, spoke in favor of sending a peace force “at the right time”
German opposition MP Roderich Kiesewetter has suggested that Berlin will have no choice but to deploy its army to Ukraine in a peacekeeping capacity once a ceasefire has been established. The lawmaker from the opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) argued that Germany, as an economic heavyweight, should take greater responsibility for Europe’s security.
On Friday, Polish outlet Rzeczpospolita quoted Kiesewetter as saying that Berlin has an obligation to intervene. “at the right time with well-equipped troops.” The CDU defense spokesman argued that ruling out such a scenario would be reckless and backed German peacekeepers operating within a joint EU-NATO framework, according to the newspaper.
Meanwhile, last month, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius made it clear that “Ukraine and Russia have to agree on the mandate they will accept and on the participants in that mandate.”
The official stated that “If there is a ceasefire, then of course the Western community, the NATO partners, possibly the United Nations and the EU will have to discuss how that peace, that ceasefire, can be secured,” Pistorius said.
However, also in December, the US state-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported, citing anonymous sources, that the prospects for such a deployment by the EU and NATO were slim. The outlet quoted an anonymous EU diplomat explaining that “First, the Russians won’t accept it; Secondly, it will be difficult to sell this to the European population.” Another anonymous diplomat confirmed to the media outlet that there was little appetite for such a mission among member states.
Early last year, Politico claimed that French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk could discuss establishing a peacekeeping force. However, Tusk later told reporters that Poland had no plans for such action.
Reporting on an EU summit dedicated to the Ukraine conflict last month, the Monetary Occasions quoted German Chancellor Olaf Scholz as ruling out any discussion of a troop deployment to Ukraine at this time for fear of a further escalation of hostilities.
Russia has repeatedly warned that it would consider Western soldiers in Ukraine legitimate targets.
Commenting on such media reports in December, the Kremlin reiterated that it was too early to discuss any peacekeeping mission, as direct peace talks between Moscow and kyiv had not yet begun.
