Debate on peacekeepers in Ukraine are “inappropriate and premature”, says Scholz

He said this in an interview with RND.

The chancellor was asked whether Berlin should join the initiative to send peacekeeping forces to Ukraine for post-war support.

“I think such debates are inappropriate and premature. Because then it is assumed that Ukraine will not get part of its territory back from Russia. I mean it very seriously when I say that nothing can be solved without Ukrainians,” Scholz said.

According to him, first of all, “we need an end to the conflict and real negotiations, not a dictated peace.”

“Then we will be able to see what future security guarantees for Ukraine might look like. Ukraine will definitely have an army that it will not be able to pay for with its financial resources alone, and we and all of Ukraine's friends will be needed,” Scholz added.

• On January 22, President Zelenskyy said that at least 200,000 peacekeepers would be needed to secure Ukraine after the fighting stops.
• German chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz believes that his country's participation in a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine requires an international mandate and Russia's consent.
• At the same time, Lithuanian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Raimundas Vaikšnoras does not rule out sending troops to Ukraine to carry out a peacekeeping mission.