Ukraine needs reliable security guarantees: Germany

KYIV: Germany is ready to help Ukraine obtain reliable security guarantees to ensure “lasting peace” once the conflict with Russia ends, Germany’s vice chancellor said Monday on a visit to Kyiv.

Lars Klingbeil also said that Germany, Ukraine’s biggest military backer after the United States, planned to spend nine billion euros ($10.5 billion) supporting Kyiv this year and in 2026.

“As long as this war continues, we will stand by Ukraine’s side, because it is also about our freedom and our security,” said the Social Democrat politician.

Kyiv is working with allies to hash out security guarantees seen as crucial in bringing the more than three-year-old war to an end.

Klingbeil, while noting discussions were in the early stages, stressed that guarantees would have to be reliable to “ensure lasting peace” for Ukraine.

“What is important is that there are security guarantees in the end that ensure Ukraine is no longer attacked,” he said.

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The aim must be that Russian President Vladimir Putin “no longer dares to attack Ukraine in the way he has over the past three and a half years,” he added.

“We as Germany must naturally also take on responsibility,” added Klingbeil, who is also Germany’s finance minister.

He said there were two components he viewed as particularly important – that Ukraine has a strong army and that weapons production in Ukraine is ramped up.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has also said that the presence of foreign troops in Ukraine once the war ends is also key.

While France and Britain have floated the idea of sending forces to uphold any peace agreement, Germany has sounded cool about the prospect.

US President Donald Trump last week ruled out sending US troops but said he envisioned extending US air power as part of potential security guarantees.

Russia has repeatedly objected to Western troops being stationed in Ukraine.

Hopes for peace have dimmed after Moscow on Friday ruled out any immediate meeting between Zelensky and Putin, despite efforts by Trump to broker a Ukraine-Russia summit.

“The ball is now in Vladimir Putin’s court,” said Klingbeil. “He is the one who can stop the war immediately, who can stop the killings immediately.”