German Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil on Monday urged “reliable security guarantees” for Ukraine once the conflict with Russia ends, as he arrived for a visit in Kyiv.
“In close coordination with (Friedrich Merz), I am seeking to exchange ideas on how Germany can best support Ukraine in a possible peace process,” the Social Democrat politician said, according to a statement.
Klingbeil, who is also the German finance minister, called for a ceasefire and emphasised that “reliable security guarantees are needed to ensure lasting peace for Ukraine.”
“We are closely coordinating internationally,” he said. “Germany will live up to its responsibility.”
Agreeing on security guarantees is seen as crucial in bringing the more than three-year-old war to an end, but the subject is complex.
As Ukraine marked its Independence Day on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the presence of foreign troops in the country once the war ended would be “important”.
However, 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 Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin, despite efforts by Donald Trump to broker an Ukraine-Russia summit.
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