Germany is split over the idea of sending a peacekeeping force to Ukraine as part of a possible peace deal with Russia. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has signaled openness to German participation, but faces opposition from his own party and from far-right groups.
Merz’s conservative government is considering deploying troops to support any European peacekeeping mission in Ukraine. However, Alice Weidel, the head of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), has accused her party’s conservatives of “war-mongering” and warned that sending troops would be “dangerous and irresponsible”.
The prospect of troop deployments remains remote due to Russia’s fierce opposition to NATO involvement. German policymakers are also concerned about overstretching their long-neglected army and being drawn into a direct confrontation with a nuclear power.
Public opinion in Germany is divided, with 49% supporting the idea of sending troops to a European peacekeeping force, while 45% oppose it. The far-right AfD is leading national polls ahead of local elections next year, and some have criticized Merz’s party for its handling of the issue.
France’s Emmanuel Macron and Britain’s Keir Starmer have both expressed support for troop deployments in a post-war settlement, but Germans are more cautious due to Germany’s Nazi past. The country’s military history has made policymakers wary of getting involved in conflicts, with recent deployments in Afghanistan and Mali being seen as failures.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/talk-boots-ground-ukraine-sparks-unease-germany-2025-08-21