Germany is fully prepared to provide certain security guarantees to Ukraine, while the United States is discussing with the East European nation how it can remain “secure.”
“If guarantees are needed, then Germany will be there and give guarantees,” German Minister of Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock told state broadcaster ARD on Wednesday, saying Kyiv could rely on her country’s support.
Berlin is “in full solidarity, by 100 percent” with Ukraine, Baerbock said.
This coincides with some leaked proposals from Russian-Ukrainian peace talks that appeared to suggest that if Ukraine agreed to demilitarize, Moscow and other Western capitals would agree to protect Kyiv.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz signaled a “general willingness” to act as security guarantor for Ukraine in a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, German government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit told a regular news conference on Wednesday.
Hebestreit said he did not want to speculate about whether the security guarantor role would also include a military component.
As for the United States, White House Director of Communications Kate Bedingfield, said, “We are in constant discussion with Ukrainians about ways that we can help ensure that they are sovereign and secure. But there’s nothing specific about a security guarantee that I can speak to at this time.” She was speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday in a response to a question of whether the U.S. is willing to become a guarantor of Ukraine’s security or considering that option.
Referring to a no-fly-zone over Ukraine, for which Zelenskyy has repeatedly appealed, Bedingfield said, “The President has been explicitly clear that he does not intend to engage U.S. troops in any way in direct conflict with the Russian military.”
“Berlin is “in full solidarity, by 100 percent” with Ukraine, Baerbock said.”
I simply don’t believe it. I’d love to be proved wrong though.
How can you trust a country that paid for the Russian invasion of Ukraine? Germany were hoping Ukraine capitulated immediately, as did a lot of other countries. With Ukraine showing they are a match for Russia, a lot of countries are now in a very awkward position.
Yep, as if we don’t remember 2 months ago who it was that denied weapons from Lithuania. Germany would be fanning the flames right now if Ukraine wasn’t winning.
“If guarantees are needed, then Germany will be there and give guarantees,”
No thanks. We have had guarantees from the West before about the security of Ukraine, we need no more. The best solution is to supply Ukraine with enough weapons so that they can guarantee their own security.
Absolutely. I was thinking along the very same lines when I read this article.
Ukraine has proven to the entire globe that it can fend for itself. All it needs is economic support and military supplies until it is strong enough to make those things themselves.
I agree. Don’t rely on others to protect your people. BEEN THERE DONE THAT!!!! The Budapest Memorandum is an example. Give help until Ukraine (WE) can stand on our own. Seems everyone is in agreement that accepting a guarantee from Germany is just bullshit.
Germany can’t defend itself against our Girl Scouts, much less assure protection for Ukraine.
I wish I could disagree. Germany is not the country I left in October ’69.