In a statement on Tuesday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed the idea of European countries and NATO alliance members sending ground troops to Ukraine, following French President Emmanuel Macron’s suggestion of the possibility. This decision came after German lawmakers expressed opposition to the idea, which was raised during a meeting in Paris. The Kremlin cautioned that such a move would escalate the situation.
Scholz emphasized that the previous agreement among European nations and NATO states still stands, reaffirming the stance against deploying soldiers to Ukrainian soil. He did acknowledge, however, that leaders are now open to obtaining weapons from non-European countries to expedite military support for Ukraine.
Since the onset of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Germany has emerged as the second-largest provider of military assistance to Ukraine. Despite this, Germany remains cautious about provoking a direct confrontation with Russia through NATO involvement.
There has been reluctance from Scholz regarding the supply of long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, as their operation may require German troops for precision targeting, a line that Scholz is not willing to cross. It remains uncertain how many other countries share Macron’s proposition, and Macron himself noted the absence of consensus at this stage, while allies agreed to enhance efforts in supplying ammunition to Kyiv.
A gathering of 20 European leaders in Paris aimed to convey a message of unity and determination to Russian President Vladimir Putin, countering the Kremlin’s narrative of an impending victory in the prolonged conflict in Ukraine. However, the Kremlin cautioned that any deployment of NATO troops in Ukraine would lead to inevitable conflict between Russia and the alliance.
Omid Nouripour, a member of the Greens party within Scholz’s coalition, confirmed that the prospect of sending troops is not under consideration in Germany or with its allies. The focus remains on supporting Ukraine through non-combat means.
In conclusion, the stance against sending ground troops to Ukraine from European countries and NATO states has been reiterated by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Amid ongoing tensions in the region, the emphasis is on non-military support for Ukraine while deterring actions that could escalate the conflict with Russia.
Contributors to this report include Andreas Rinke, Rachel More, and Matthias Williams, with writing by Matthias Williams and editing by Miranda Murray and Kevin Liffey.
