Merz says European forces in Ukraine will be able to deter Russian troops
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that European forces that could be deployed in Ukraine under security guarantees from Europe and the United States are capable of repelling Russian troops under certain conditions. He said this in an interview with ZDF TV channel, Reuters reports.
According to Merz, if a ceasefire is reached, security guarantors should be ready to act if Russia violates the terms of the truce. He explained that this means creating a demilitarised zone between the parties and being ready to respond to possible invasions or attacks from Russia.
The Chancellor stressed that these mechanisms are still under discussion, but the principle of active deterrence of the aggressor is key. In his opinion, a ceasefire without real defence instruments cannot guarantee Ukraine's security.
Mertz also drew attention to the position of the United States, which, according to him, is considering the option of protecting Ukraine after the ceasefire using a logic similar to NATO's collective defence. He called this approach a new one and one that deserves to be taken seriously.
The statements came amid talks between Western partners on possible security models for Ukraine after the active phase of hostilities.
