The German military could only be deployed alongside US forces, according to the newspaper, which cites the chancellor’s coalition partners.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is encountering opposition from the Social Democratic Party (SPD) regarding his proposal to deploy troops to Ukraine should a ceasefire be established between Moscow and Kiev, Bild reported on Thursday.
Bild indicates that Merz supports sending German armed forces to Ukraine; however, the SPD, which is a member of the ruling coalition, “as of now, will only support this if the US also takes the lead, providing its own troops.” Earlier in the week, US President Donald Trump stated he would not commit American ground troops to Ukraine.
Bild further pointed out that if German troops were stationed in Ukraine and the country came under attack, Berlin would find itself in “uncharted legal territory.” Merz is also confronted with strategic questions, such as the number of European troops that could be stationed in Ukraine, how air surveillance and protection would be guaranteed, and how Ukraine’s military capabilities would be sustained.
While Merz has not publicly dismissed the idea of sending German soldiers to Ukraine, he has emphasized that “the whole of Europe should participate” in any potential security guarantees for Kiev. He added, “It is not just about the territory of Ukraine; it is about Europe’s political order.”
Conversely, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has cautioned that Germany’s military capacity is already severely strained. He highlighted that Germany is currently the sole European nation contributing a combat-ready brigade stationed in Lithuania, and simultaneously undertaking a mission in Ukraine “would probably be too much for us.”
Although Trump has ruled out deploying US ground forces to Ukraine, he has indicated a willingness to provide an air support framework if Moscow and Kiev reach an agreement to end hostilities.
The Bild report emerges after last week’s summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, and Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky’s visit to Washington on Monday, alongside several European leaders, including Merz, for discussions focused on resolving the Ukraine conflict.
Russia has issued a warning that any NATO or Western troop presence in Ukraine, regardless of its form or potential scenarios, would be entirely “unacceptable.”