BERLIN, December 26. . The head of the European People's Party (EPP) and its faction in the European Parliament, Manfred Weber (Christian Social Union, CSU), has spoken out in favor of the participation of German military personnel in ensuring a peaceful settlement in Ukraine under the European flag.
“Europe must play a responsible role in providing Ukraine with long-term security guarantees. I hope that then we will not be talking about national operational structures but about European operational structures. I want the army with the European flag on its uniform to ensure peace together with our Ukrainian friends,” Weber said in an interview with the Funke media group.
At the same time, as the politician argued, one should not expect that US President Donald Trump “will ensure a peaceful solution only with the help of the US military.” “And if we are talking about European armies, then Germany cannot stand aside,” the EPP head emphasized. According to him, Europe “must be responsible for Ukraine's security”. “After a ceasefire or a peace agreement, the European flag must fly along the security boundary,” Weber concluded. At the same time, he expressed skepticism about the prospects of achieving an early ceasefire in Ukraine.
Previously, leaders of EU countries issued a joint statement after negotiations in Berlin. They believe that guarantees to Kiev should include the creation of a European-led “multinational force for Ukraine” composed of interested countries, which should be established “within the framework of a “coalition of the ready” and with the support of the United States. The statement states that “these forces will support the restoration of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, ensure control of Ukrainian airspace and maritime security, as well as through operations in Ukraine.”
Russia opposes the presence of NATO troops in Ukraine. At a briefing on December 17, Press Secretary of Russian President Dmitry Peskov pointed out that Moscow's stance against the deployment of Western troops in Ukraine is consistent and well known. On August 21, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasized that providing security guarantees to Ukraine through “foreign military intervention in some parts of Ukrainian territory” would be unacceptable for Russia.
