Berlin will take part in providing security guarantees for Ukraine alongside European partners but the talks are at an early stage and must be shaped by Kyiv, German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil said on Monday (August 25) in Ukraine's capital.
"It is also clear that we as a Western alliance are now working together with Ukraine on the question of security guarantees," said Klingbeil during his first visit to Kyiv.
"This is an intensive process that is still in its early stages, but it is absolutely clear – and I want to emphasise this again here – that we in Germany will of course also bear responsibility."
Klingbeil, who also serves as Germany's finance minister, said in order to achieve that goal the Ukrainian army needed to be strengthened and arms production inside Ukraine needed to be ramped up.
"It must also be clear that any negotiations must begin with a ceasefire, meaning that Vladimir Putin must stop the killing", Klingbeil added.
U.S. President Donald Trump has pressed for a quick end to the war, but Kyiv and its allies are concerned he could seek to force an agreement on Russia's terms.
"It is now up to Vladimir Putin to show that he has a serious interest in a lasting, just peace," Klingbeil said. "I would like to make it very clear that it is now up to Putin to take the next step."
Klingbeil said Ukraine needed to be involved in the talks and there needed to be a ceasefire and reliable security guarantees for a lasting peace.
Among options presented this week for security for Ukraine after a possible peace deal, both French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer supported troop deployments as part of a coalition of the willing.
Merz has also signalled openness to Germany's participation but would face a backlash both from within and outside his political spectrum on the matter.
According to Klingbeil's ministry, the German government has supported Ukraine with €50.5 billion ($59.18 billion) since the war started.
Russian drone strikes hit civilian sites across several Ukrainian regions overnight and on Sunday, leaving at least 12 people dead and more than a doz...
A freight train carrying with Russian grain has departed from Bilajari station in Azerbaijan, heading to Armenia via transit routes through Georgia....
Dmitry Medvedev said European countries have failed to defeat Russia in Ukraine and have instead inflicted serious economic damage on themselves, as h...
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has begun negotiations with European leaders over Greenland and that an agreement ...
Israel has reopened Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt in what Israeli media described as a “pilot operation,” marking the first opening of...
Russian drone strikes hit civilian sites across several Ukrainian regions overnight and on Sunday, leaving at least 12 people dead and more than a dozen injured, Ukrainian officials said.
A freight train carrying with Russian grain has departed from Bilajari station in Azerbaijan, heading to Armenia via transit routes through Georgia.
Dmitry Medvedev said European countries have failed to defeat Russia in Ukraine and have instead inflicted serious economic damage on themselves, as he criticised EU policy, praised Donald Trump as a leader who seeks peace, and said Russia would “soon” achieve military victory in the war.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has begun negotiations with European leaders over Greenland and that an agreement is already taking shape.
Catherine O’Hara, the celebrated Canadian actress and comedy legend, has died at the age of 71, her publicist confirmed on Friday. She passed away at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness.
Newly released Epstein files name French President Emmanuel Macron among figures referenced in millions of disclosed documents.
The United Nations faces the risk of “imminent financial collapse” because of unpaid contributions, including substantial arrears from the United States, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned.
Vladimir Putin said Russia earned more than $15 billion from defence exports in 2025 and fulfilled all military-technical contracts despite what he described as growing pressure from Western countries.
Explosions shook parts of southern Lebanon on Friday night as Israeli strikes rippled across the Zahrani district, with the blasts travelling toward the coastal city of Sidon.
Russian drone strikes hit civilian sites across several Ukrainian regions overnight and on Sunday, leaving at least 12 people dead and more than a dozen injured, Ukrainian officials said.
Dmitry Medvedev said European countries have failed to defeat Russia in Ukraine and have instead inflicted serious economic damage on themselves, as he criticised EU policy, praised Donald Trump as a leader who seeks peace, and said Russia would “soon” achieve military victory in the war.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has begun negotiations with European leaders over Greenland and that an agreement is already taking shape.
Israel has reopened Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt in what Israeli media described as a “pilot operation,” marking the first opening of the crossing in two years.
Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu has arrived in China for an official visit, where he is due to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to discuss international and regional security issues, Russian state media reported on Sunday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment