A senior German lawmaker has cautioned against a forced peace settlement in Ukraine, advocating for the country’s eventual accession into NATO as the most credible long-term security guarantee. Roderich Kiesewetter, a foreign policy spokesperson for the CDU, expressed concerns that upcoming discussions in Washington involving European leaders are crucial to prevent any unilateral pressure on Kyiv to accept unfavorable terms.
Kiesewetter suggested Europe must be prepared to independently reinforce any potential ceasefire agreement, potentially deploying troops to secure it. He emphasized current bilateral security guarantees are insufficient and that NATO membership offers a necessary level of protection, including potential nuclear deterrence. He anticipates that European nations, should they commit to such a deployment, would simultaneously seek assurances from the United States regarding nuclear protection.
Germany, as Europe’s largest economy, should, he argues, take a leading role in contributing to such an effort, though this would require significant political will, particularly with the stated objective of preventing Ukraine from ceding territory to Russia.
Kiesewetter warned that allowing Russia to retain control of Ukrainian land would likely embolden further aggression. He characterized a freeze on the conflict without a clear plan to restore Ukraine’s borders to those established in 1991 as a strategically flawed and dangerous decision for Europe.