Germany is likely exhausted from sending troops to Ukraine, says the foreign minister
German Foreign Minister Johann Fadibol stated that Germany is ready to play a pivotal role in providing security guarantees for Ukraine, but emphasized that the deployment of German troops there is unlikely. He explained that Germany is already deploying a fully ready combat brigade in Lithuania, and that doubling such commitments would be 'exaggerated' for Berlin. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is expected to review this matter more deeply.
European leaders believe that long-term security guarantees are essential for any future peace agreement between Kyiv and Moscow. This topic will be the focus of discussions in Washington on Monday, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his European counterparts will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump. Fadipol confirmed that Berlin could provide military and technical support, emphasizing that Germany should play a key role in shaping the European approach.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that Washington is considering providing stronger guarantees to Ukraine, including the possibility of joining the European Union and similar protections to Article 5 of the NATO treaty regarding collective defense. However, it remains unclear whether Zelensky will accept such commitments without foreign troops on the ground, especially since Trump has previously questioned the United States' commitment to NATO's collective defense clause.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who is also traveling to Washington, has remained cautious so far about the idea of deploying German soldiers in Ukraine. He stated earlier this year that Germany might consider it only if the United States committed first. Currently, Germany faces internal constraints; despite a significant increase in defense spending, the number of troops has remained steady at around 182,000 soldiers, complicating any new large-scale missions abroad.
Recently, Germany launched its first permanent deployment of troops abroad since World War II, sending an armored brigade of 5,000 soldiers to Lithuania to bolster NATO's eastern defenses. A spokesperson for the German government acknowledged on Monday that security guarantees for Ukraine are essential, but emphasized that the process will be long and complex, requiring extensive coordination between Europe and Washington.