The issue of the presence of European peacekeepers in Ukraine is one of the most sensitive, as it requires a demonstration of adherence to values not in word but in deed. In many countries that have signed security agreements with Ukraine, society and politicians are categorically against the participation of their troops in any format of presence in Ukraine. But gradually, the European political community is maturing to the realization that such a step is inevitable.
The puzzle of this process was a recent statement by the security spokesman for Germany’s largest opposition party, the CDU, Roderich Kiesewetter, who said that Germany, as the country with the largest economy in the EU, should make a major contribution to peacekeeping and the European security architecture and participate in a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine if this mission is formed after the war. At the same time, a German politician from the CDU, commenting on security issues in the Schwäbische Zeitung, believes that Germany has no alternative in this matter.
At the same time, according to Roderich Kiesewetter, the involvement of German peacekeepers should be in the framework of joint actions with the EU and NATO. In addition, German intervention in Ukraine should be “at the right time with well-equipped troops.” And Kiesewetter believes that it would be imprudent to exclude this option in the future.
“A peacekeeping force is effective and realistic given our limited material and human resources in Europe if peacekeeping can be integrated into the European and transatlantic security architecture and thus into NATO, as the nuclear umbrella would then extend to Ukraine,” Kiesewetter said.
In general, German Christian Democrat politician Roderich Kiesewetter, as deputy chairman of the Bundestag’s parliamentary committee on intelligence oversight, has repeatedly called for increased Western assistance to Ukraine.
Kisevetter’s position on the war in Ukraine is clearly pro-Ukrainian and reflects a deep understanding of the nature of the Russian dictatorship and the threat to global security posed by Moscow. Recently, Kisevetter called on NATO countries to take over the defense of the skies in western Ukraine so that Ukrainian air defense could focus on protecting the skies in the frontline regions.
It should be noted that this is not only a rational position of an adult German politician, but also a key responsibility of every politician and official to take action to protect the safety of their country’s citizens. After all, Russian missiles and drones have repeatedly flown into the airspace of Poland, Romania, Moldova, and even Hungary and Croatia. Therefore, European politicians are endangering the lives of their citizens by not taking action and only watching a deadly target flying near their borders that could easily fall on their cities. Instead, preemptively shooting down Russian air targets heading toward the EU’s borders is a step that European politicians should have taken three years ago, without waiting for Roderich Kiesewetter’s calls.
Kisevetter also called on the West to provide Ukraine with all the necessary means to bring the war into Russia itself and thereby force it to peace – a conscious and rational position of an experienced politician.
Because of his pro-Ukrainian views, political opponents in Germany even attacked Bundestag member Roderich Kiesewetter near his party’s campaign tent.
It is noteworthy that the idea of sending German peacekeepers to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire, voiced by Kiesewetter, is supported by 54% of Germans, according to a Yougov poll. French President Emmanuel Macron has previously made similar statements. And according to press reports, France and the United Kingdom are discussing options for the presence of their peacekeepers in Ukraine in the event of peace talks with the Russian aggressor. One of the options being discussed is the deployment of troops from both countries on the demarcation line to monitor compliance with the ceasefire.
Author: Valeriy Maydanyuk