Peace for Ukraine: Europeans are working on guarantees for Kyiv – no US troops

According to Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, Germany and its partners work with high pressure on details of reliable security guarantees for Ukraine. An uncertainty factor is how exactly the United States could participate in the protection of the country attacked by Russia according to a possible peace agreement. US President Donald Trump excluded the use of American ground troops the day after the Ukraine summit in the White House and referred to the willingness of some European countries.

First promise of protection, then concessions

Pistorius told the German Press Agency: “It is not yet clear what a German contribution to the security guarantees will look like and will have to be determined politically and militarily.” The course of the negotiations, the possible contribution of the USA and the votes with the partners would be taken into account. “Of course, it must also be checked which willingness Russia shows to come to a peace solution.”

Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) said with a view to security guarantees: “It is completely clear that all of Europe should participate in it.” Germany has “a high level of responsibility” to do this. When asked whether the Bundeswehr could also participate, Merz replied that it was too early to give a final answer.

Security guarantees against other Russian attacks are considered a basic requirement for the fact that Ukraine makes concessions in negotiations. At the meeting with the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj, top European politicians and Trump on Monday, the promise of protection was discussed based on the example of Article 5 of the NATO contract. Article 5 regulates the alliance case in which the NATO countries can count in the event of an attack on the support of the Allies.

Trump provides Europeans to troops in Ukraine

Trump had agreed that the United States would be supported by security guarantees. After the meeting in Washington, he initially left details. With a view to the Ukrainians, he only assured: “We will give you very good protection, very good security.”

In a conversation with the US broadcaster Fox News on Tuesday, Trump became a little more specific. He assumes that Germany, France and Great Britain are ready to send soldiers to Ukraine to secure a possible peace. “When it comes to security, they are ready to send soil troops,” he said. Meanwhile, the United States are ready to support the allies – for example from the air.

Selenskyj described security guarantees for his country as primary for peace with Russia. “It is very important that the United States give a strong signal and are ready for these security guarantees.” In addition, the security of Ukraine also depends on the European allies.

Russia has so far categorically rejected the stationing of troops from NATO countries in Ukraine.

EU President of the Council is optimistic

After a video conference of the EU heads of state and government for the debriefing of the Ukraine summit, EU Council President António Costa spoke of growing dynamics regarding the security guarantees for Ukraine. The effort would now have to be accelerated and a protective promise made similar to that of the NATO contract with continued commitment of the United States, said Costa in Lisbon. Costa also said that after the video count, he called the Ukrainian president.

According to the British Prime Minister Starmer, representatives of the so-called coalition of the willing want to meet with their US partners in order to concretize security guarantees for Kiev. It will also be about preparing the preparations for the use of peace troops in the event of a ceasefire, he said according to the video count of around 30 heads of state and government. According to Costa, these talks are expected to take place in the coming days, probably this week.

France’s President Emmanuel Macron had previously warned of a hasty peace treaty without protection. “This peace must not be rushed and must be secured by solid guarantees, otherwise we are back at the beginning,” Macron told TF1/LCI.

Putin and Selenskyj?

US President Trump is aiming for a Selenskyj meeting with Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin. After that, there should be a three -way meeting in which he will also participate, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Putin agreed in a telephone conversation with Trump to take part in a bilateral meeting with the Ukrainian president, it was said from German government circles. According to Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), the Selenskyj Putin meeting is planned within the next two weeks.

The Federal Government regarded the Ukraine summit in Washington as a historical meeting. The dynamics of Trump and Putin summit in Alaska last Friday, it was said from government circles. Trump has now largely based on the position of Europeans.

Behavior from Moscow

The public reaction from Russia was initially behavior. In principle, Moscow is open to any format, Foreign Minister Sergei Lawrow said on state television. “But all contacts with the participation of the heads of state have to be prepared extremely carefully,” he added. With this argument, Russia had already rejected Selenskyj’s claims after a quick meeting with Putin. According to Moscow, delegations must first negotiate an agreement at the lower level.

Disagreement about the need for a ceasefire

There is disagreement in the question of an immediate ceasefire as a prerequisite for peace negotiations. Trump had given up this central demand after the Alaska summit with Putin. At the meeting in the White House, the question was evaluated differently. Chancellor Merz continues to adhere to this demand: “I cannot imagine that the next meeting will take place without a break,” he said in the White House.

Selenskyj, on the other hand, refrained from demanding a ceasefire before meeting Putin. “I think that we meet without any preconditions and have to think about how this way could go on to end the war,” he said.

At his meeting with Selenskyj, Trump said that he would like the concept of a fire break because it would immediately stop killing people. “But we can work on a deal where we aim at a peace agreement.”