Senior politicians: Don't rule out German troop deployment to Ukraine

Senior German politicians are not ruling out the deployment of troops to Ukraine provided that this follows a ceasefire and is part of a multinational force.

Roderich Kiesewetter, a veteran member of parliament for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and a member of the Foreign Affairs committee, told Der Spiegel news magazine on Saturday the question would arise only after a ceasefire.

But he added: "Germany as a self-appointed lead nation should not rule out anything here, at least in public communication."

The "coalition of the willing" supporting Ukraine, of which Germany is a lead member, should be open to contributions from outside countries that support NATO and EU policies, he said.

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, a member of the pro-business opposition FDP and head of the European Parliament's Defence Committee, told Der Spiegel: "Germany must of course be there in the event of a possible peacekeeping operation. That should be clear to everyone."

The generals of the states involved would have to decide on the capabilities that the German military would provide, she said. Nothing should be ruled out, she said.