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Merz Says European Force Would Defend Ukraine Against Russian Breaches Post-Ceasefire
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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said a multinational security contingent envisioned in a European plan for Ukraine could, under certain circumstances, repel Russian attacks after a potential ceasefire, according to RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service on December 16.
Merz made the remarks in an interview with Germany’s ZDF public television, describing a scenario in which guarantor states would help secure a demilitarized zone and respond to violations.
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European leaders published a joint statement on December 15 after talks in Berlin involving US and Ukrainian delegations, outlining commitments they said should form part of robust security guarantees and recovery support for Ukraine within the context of an agreement to end the war.
The statement said Ukraine’s armed forces should remain at a peacetime level of about 800,000 personnel, and proposed a European-led “multinational force” supported by the US to help regenerate Ukraine’s forces, secure Ukraine’s skies and support safer seas, including operating inside Ukraine.
The Kremlin stated on December 16 that it had not received signals regarding the outcome of the Berlin talks and that it first needed to learn the details before participating in further negotiations, while reiterating its objections to any foreign military presence in Ukraine.
Earlier, it was reported that European leaders outlined a package of security and recovery commitments that includes keeping Ukraine’s armed forces at a large peacetime level and creating European-coordinated multinational forces with US support to help regenerate forces and bolster air-and-sea security, including operations inside Ukraine.
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