NATO troop presence in Ukraine difficult to envision

In a significant development, a coalition of approximately 30 countries, including France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, and around 26 other Western allies, have pledged their support for a security initiative for Ukraine. This coalition is prepared to provide military and security assistance, potentially including troops for peacekeeping or stabilization missions. However, there are no plans for direct NATO involvement in a troop that could secure a peace agreement.

The current situation in Ukraine remains unresolved, with no ceasefire in sight, according to Adis Ahmetović. This has led to discussions about the deployment of troops, but CSU leader Markus Söder has rejected such proposals, stating it is unlikely that NATO troops would be stationed in Ukraine due to potential Russian objections.

Markus Söder has suggested discussing how to send combat-capable Ukrainian refugees back to their homeland to ensure security in Ukraine. However, the Bundeswehr is not currently prepared for such a deployment, according to Söder himself. Even under these conditions, Friedrich Merz would place the deployment of German soldiers "under significant reservations."

Long-term security guarantees can only be decided upon if there is a ceasefire or a peace agreement, according to Merz. The concrete security guarantees of the USA are unclear, and they depend on the possibilities and scope of German engagement, according to Ahmetović.

Meanwhile, the black-red coalition's plans state that people from Ukraine who arrive in Germany after April 1, 2025, will no longer receive citizen's allowance, but rather lower benefits like asylum seekers. This is part of an effort to increase the proportion of employed Ukrainians compared to other European countries, as suggested by Söder.

The Green Party leader has criticized Markus Söder, suggesting he should focus on sausage eating instead of political matters. Despite this, SPD's foreign policy spokesman Adis Ahmetović agrees with Söder that deploying German ground troops should not be seriously considered at this point. Friedrich Merz, on the other hand, has not ruled out the possibility of military deployment in Ukraine, but has stated that there are no concrete plans for a military deployment "at least in Germany."

Adis Ahmetović is puzzled by Markus Söder's suggestion to deport Ukrainian refugees to the front, and there are ongoing discussions about the best course of action for ensuring security and stability in Ukraine while respecting the rights and wellbeing of refugees.