German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has rejected speculation that Western soldiers could be sent to Ukraine, stressing that current talks in Europe are focused on security guarantees and political assurances rather than ground deployments.

In an interview with ZDF television, Merz dismissed suggestions raised in Paris and London. "At the moment, no one is talking about ground forces in Ukraine... I attend all these negotiations, and I know what we are talking about," he said.

When asked whether a truce might be reached in 2026, Merz was cautious but hopeful. "I have not given up hope that we will achieve this. However, I have no illusions," he noted.

According to Bild, Berlin has already shelved the option of sending Bundeswehr troops if a ceasefire emerges. Instead, the German government is preparing to provide financial assistance to sustain Ukraine's armed forces in the post-war period.

Troop Plans Denied

The chancellor's remarks follow US President Donald Trump's statement after an August 18 summit in Washington, where he claimed that France, Germany, and the UK were considering troop deployments. Trump noted that no US forces would be involved during his presidency. European officials later clarified that any foreign presence under discussion was tied to a post-ceasefire arrangement, not combat operations. A joint UK-French-German communiqué explicitly spoke of being "ready to deploy a reassurance force once hostilities have ceased."

Still, German officials remain wary of overextension. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul warned that such a mission would "probably overwhelm us", citing the Bundeswehr's existing obligations, including its permanent brigade deployment in Lithuania. Military associations in Berlin have also said that a serious multinational mission could require tens of thousands of troops, raising questions about feasibility.

Meanwhile, Trump's wider peace plan, reported by The Telegraph, includes the idea of using American private military contractors in Ukraine as part of a long-term security arrangement, a strategy aimed at avoiding US troop deployments while keeping American involvement. The plan also ties security to Ukraine's rare earth minerals, continued arms sales, and a possible European-led reassurance force scaled down from earlier proposals of 30,000 troops.

Russia has sharply opposed these ideas. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that any NATO-linked presence on Ukrainian soil, "under any designation, including peacekeepers," would be seen as a threat and "not be accepted under any circumstances." Moscow has also floated China as a potential guarantor in a future ceasefire, an idea rejected by Europe and Kiev.

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