German media: Ukraine peacekeeping, Germany in controversy

The "ghost debate" within Germany

As the possibility of a Russia-Ukraine peace talks brings hope for a stable peace, debates within Germany have already begun. German politicians have been arguing for days about an issue that does not yet require a decision: If Russia and Ukraine reach an agreement, should Germany also send soldiers to join a possible peacekeeping force?

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has claimed that dialogue with Putin is only possible if prior security guarantees are obtained. This could mean that a force composed by the international community will be stationed in Ukraine, monitoring that no new battles occur.

If this is indeed the case, Germany will almost certainly not be absent. Especially since German Chancellor Merkel has recently emphasized that Germany needs to speak with a strong voice in international conflicts. This echoes the statement of US Vice President Vance on Fox News. Vance said, "Europeans will have to bear most of the burden. It's their continent, their security." When asked about Ukraine's costs, Vance said, "I don't think we should bear this burden."

However, the uncertainty of this plan is also reflected in Moscow's response. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday that deploying European troops as part of Western security guarantees is "completely unacceptable." Lavrov called it "foreign intervention in parts of Ukraine," which is "completely unacceptable" for Russia.

Ukraine supports meetings in "neutral locations"

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has rejected China's security guarantees, stating that Beijing has not helped Kyiv end the war but instead provided drones to Russia. Zelenskyy added that he hopes any potential tripartite meeting between Putin and Trump could take place in Switzerland, Austria or Turkey. He also added that choosing Hungary as a meeting location is "not easy," considering the close relationship between the governments of Budapest and Moscow. Ukraine supports holding meetings in "neutral locations."

Public opinion in Germany also doubts whether Germany should participate in the Ukrainian peacekeeping mission. A survey conducted by the polling institute Civey for the "web.de" website showed that 51% of respondents oppose Germany's participation in the Ukrainian peacekeeping mission, while only 36% believe it is the right approach.

The coalition partner of the German government, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), has also warned against hasty plans. SPD chairman Klinke told German television station Sat.1 that it would be good if a serious dialogue phase could be entered, and Ukraine certainly needs security guarantees that it is no longer attacked. But he also pointed out, "First, Ukraine needs a strong army. Then we can see what else we can do. But whether German soldiers participate is currently not a topic for discussion."

Source: DW

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1841308762552328/

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