Nearly Half of Germans Support Deploying Bundeswehr to Ukraine for Peacekeeping

According to Reuters, a recent poll conducted by the Forsa Institute for the German magazine Stern found that 49% of Germans support deploying Bundeswehr forces as part of a potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, while 44% oppose the idea. The survey also found that 7% of respondents did not express a clear opinion.

The poll highlights regional differences in attitudes toward the deployment. In western Germany, 52% of respondents backed the initiative, while in eastern Germany, where regions were under Soviet influence before reunification, 65% opposed it.

Additionally, 83% of supporters of the right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AfD) rejected the idea of German participation in a peacekeeping mission.

Germany’s Ministry of Defense previously stated that the country would not rule out contributing to a peacekeeping mission if the necessary conditions were established. However, the final decision is expected to be made by Germany’s next government following upcoming federal elections.

The discussion on deploying peacekeepers to Ukraine is gaining traction in other European countries as well. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has expressed openness to sending British troops to monitor ceasefire agreements, while Sweden’s Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard confirmed that Stockholm is considering participation in such a mission.

Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk ruled out sending Polish troops but emphasized that Poland remains committed to providing logistical, financial, humanitarian, and military assistance to Ukraine.

Earlier, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated in an interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung that Germany could participate in securing a demilitarized zone in Ukraine if a ceasefire is reached. He emphasized that discussions on troop deployment would only take place “when the time comes” and highlighted Germany’s responsibility as NATO's largest European partner.