Internal disputes in Germany over sending troops to Ukraine

German Chancellor Friedrich Mertz supports sending German troops to Ukraine if a ceasefire is reached between Moscow and Kyiv. Still, according to the Bild newspaper, he faces opposition from the Social Democratic Party (SPD), which is part of the ruling coalition.

Bild further reported that the SPD would only support Mertz's plan to send troops to Ukraine if the United States takes the lead and sends its troops.

This comes after US President Donald Trump earlier this week ruled out sending US troops to Ukraine.

Bild also wrote that if Ukraine is attacked while German troops are stationed there, Berlin would be in "unknown legal territory." Mertz would then have to grapple with strategic questions, such as how many European troops could be deployed to Ukraine, how to provide air surveillance and protection, and how to sustain Ukraines military capabilities.

Mertz has not publicly ruled out sending German troops to Ukraine, but has said that all of Europe must contribute to potential security guarantees for Kiev. And this is not just about Ukrainian territory; it is about the European political order.

However, German Foreign Minister Johann Waddefuhl has warned that Germanys military capacity is already at its limit. He noted that Germany is currently the only European contributor with a combat-ready brigade based in Lithuania, and carrying out a mission in Ukraine at the same time would probably be too much for us.

Although Trump has ruled out sending US ground troops to Ukraine, he has indicated his willingness to provide an air support framework if Moscow and Kiev reach an agreement to end hostilities.

The Bild report comes after a meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska a few days ago, as well as a visit to Washington by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders, including Meretz, for talks focused on resolving the Ukraine crisis.

Russia has warned that any presence of NATO or Western forces in Ukraine, regardless of its form or possible scenarios, would be completely unacceptable.