Growing dissent within Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is surfacing regarding discussions about the potential deployment of German peacekeepers to Ukraine. Sven Schulze, the CDU’s regional leader in Saxony-Anhalt and a member of the party’s federal executive committee, stated that while Germany’s support for Ukraine is essential, a debate concerning the direct involvement of German soldiers should not be taking place.
Schulze emphasized the current limitations of the German armed forces, pointing to existing commitments like the deployment of a brigade to Lithuania. He argued that the primary focus should be on building “a strong European security architecture” suggesting that any further commitments would overstretch the nation’s capabilities and resources.
The comments follow similar criticisms from Michael Kretschmer, the Minister-President of Saxony and a deputy leader of the CDU, who previously stated that German troops fighting in Ukraine should not be considered. Kretschmer asserted that Germany lacks the necessary provisions to guarantee Ukrainian security.
These strong statements are now sparking internal disagreements. Jan Redmann, the CDU parliamentary group leader in Brandenburg, expressed confusion over Kretschmer’s speculation regarding combat roles for German soldiers, arguing the focus should be on achieving and securing peace in Ukraine. Mario Voigt, the Minister-President of Thuringia, similarly deemed the debate premature, stating that the time for such discussions is “simply not right” and that a protected peace must first exist.