Germany declines involvement in military interventions

In a significant move towards resolving the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, 35 heads of state and government from the "Coalition of the Willing" convened for consultations, both in person in Paris and via video link. The meetings were aimed at finding a solution to the ongoing conflict and discussing ways to support Ukraine.

Germany, a key player in the negotiations, has initially focused on financing, arming, and training the Ukrainian military. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has been a vocal advocate for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj, with the hope of reaching a ceasefire agreement.

The conditions for potential military engagement by Germany are contingent upon the nature and extent of US engagement and the outcome of the negotiation process. Merz has also expressed his support for continued efforts towards arranging the Ukrainian-Russian summit.

The United States, under President Donald Trump, was contacted following the consultations, with Kornelius explaining the results to Trump. The discussions centred around joint efforts to support Ukraine, formulating security guarantees, and shaping a goal-oriented diplomatic process.

Besides Germany and the USA, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Finland, the EU Commission, and NATO were involved in the negotiations. Notable attendees included French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj also participated in the consultations. The European partners have expressed their hope that the United States would continue to contribute substantially to the support of Ukraine, and they have also hoped that the US would formulate security guarantees for Ukraine.

If the Russian side continues to play for time, Europe has threatened to increase the pressure of sanctions to enhance the chances of a diplomatic solution. The Bundestag, Germany's federal parliament, holds the final say in a deployment of the Federal Armed Forces.

At present, Germany is not committing to a potential military involvement in Ukraine. However, Germany is already a key partner in financing, arming, and training the Ukrainian military and is ready to increase this support.

The consultations concluded with a shared commitment to support Ukraine and a hope for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis. If successful, this diplomatic push could pave the way for a much-needed ceasefire and potentially bring an end to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.