Germany assures "no Russian veto" over Ukraine troop deployment
The German Defense Minister has stated that Western troops could only be deployed to Ukraine if both Moscow and Kiev reach an agreement. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
NATO boots on the ground would be impossible without Moscow’s consent, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has stated.
According to Pistorius, any initiative that involves deploying Western peacekeeping troops in Ukraine would require agreement from both Moscow and Kiev. Some leaders in the EU are considering the possibility of a Western peacekeeping force in Ukraine if a ceasefire is established. Donald Trump, who is set to be sworn in as US president next month, recently expressed his desire to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s President Vladimir Zelensky to the negotiating table.
During a press conference in Berlin on Monday, Pistorius emphasized that discussions regarding the presence of European troops in the conflict are currently premature.
“If there is a ceasefire, then, of course, the Western community, NATO partners, possibly the United Nations, and the EU will have to discuss how such a peace, such a ceasefire can be secured,” he said.
Pistorius noted that Germany, as the largest economy in the EU, "would play a role there," though he did not specify what that role might involve. He highlighted that a clear mandate for any foreign peacekeeping force would need to be established.
“It must be clear that the two nations negotiating for the ceasefire, Ukraine and Russia, have to agree on a mandate they would accept and on the participants of such a mandate,” Pistorius explained.
In related news, Zelensky indicated on Tuesday that he anticipates being in direct contact with the White House following Trump’s inauguration to discuss which elements of his so-called ‘peace formula’ the new US president might support. Moscow has previously characterized Zelensky’s proposals as unrealistic.
The Kremlin has underscored that Kiev is not ready for negotiations. “The Ukrainian side still refuses to hold any negotiations,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Tuesday, adding that Zelensky has “legally forbidden himself from these negotiations,” a reference to the Ukrainian leader’s 2022 decree prohibiting talks with Putin.
As a result, Peskov concluded, “it is premature to talk about everything else, namely peacekeepers, at this time.”
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
According to Pistorius, any initiative that involves deploying Western peacekeeping troops in Ukraine would require agreement from both Moscow and Kiev. Some leaders in the EU are considering the possibility of a Western peacekeeping force in Ukraine if a ceasefire is established. Donald Trump, who is set to be sworn in as US president next month, recently expressed his desire to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s President Vladimir Zelensky to the negotiating table.
During a press conference in Berlin on Monday, Pistorius emphasized that discussions regarding the presence of European troops in the conflict are currently premature.
“If there is a ceasefire, then, of course, the Western community, NATO partners, possibly the United Nations, and the EU will have to discuss how such a peace, such a ceasefire can be secured,” he said.
Pistorius noted that Germany, as the largest economy in the EU, "would play a role there," though he did not specify what that role might involve. He highlighted that a clear mandate for any foreign peacekeeping force would need to be established.
“It must be clear that the two nations negotiating for the ceasefire, Ukraine and Russia, have to agree on a mandate they would accept and on the participants of such a mandate,” Pistorius explained.
In related news, Zelensky indicated on Tuesday that he anticipates being in direct contact with the White House following Trump’s inauguration to discuss which elements of his so-called ‘peace formula’ the new US president might support. Moscow has previously characterized Zelensky’s proposals as unrealistic.
The Kremlin has underscored that Kiev is not ready for negotiations. “The Ukrainian side still refuses to hold any negotiations,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Tuesday, adding that Zelensky has “legally forbidden himself from these negotiations,” a reference to the Ukrainian leader’s 2022 decree prohibiting talks with Putin.
As a result, Peskov concluded, “it is premature to talk about everything else, namely peacekeepers, at this time.”
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
