German Chancellor Merz Rejects EU Ukraine Troop Deployment Plans

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has dismissed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's remarks about concrete plans for deploying foreign troops to Ukraine as part of security guarantees, emphasizing that any military support decisions are the responsibility of the 'coalition of the willing' and not the European Union. Merz stressed there are currently no plans for troop deployment in Germany and that long-term security guarantees can only be determined after a ceasefire or peace agreement is reached. He expressed significant reservations about sending German troops, noting that parliamentary approval would be required and that decisions would depend on the nature of any agreement with Russia. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius echoed Merz's stance, calling public discussions about troop deployments premature. The debate occurs amid ongoing talks among European and allied nations about security guarantees for Ukraine to prevent future Russian aggression, with Russia firmly rejecting any NATO-linked peacekeepers. Additionally, Merz labeled Russian President Vladimir Putin as a serious war criminal, a statement that the Kremlin rejected, stating his views should be disregarded when considering Ukraine peace talks.