Friedrich Merz, the candidate for Chancellor of Germany and leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), stated that the deployment of German peacekeepers in Ukraine would require an international mandate, ideally in consensus with Russia. In an interview published on December 28, 2024, Merz emphasized that any peace agreement must be supported by a solid international legal mandate, which he currently does not see as feasible.
Merz expressed his desire to achieve peace in Ukraine as soon as possible but insisted that it should not be an imposed peace. He highlighted the importance of a peace agreement that considers Ukraine's interests and noted the ongoing hybrid warfare tactics employed by Russia, which also target Germany's IT infrastructure and freedom of expression.
He firmly stated that Germany would not become a party to the conflict, disagreeing with current Chancellor Olaf Scholz regarding the supply of Taurus missiles to Ukraine. Merz pointed out that the US, UK, and France have already supplied similar arms to Ukraine without becoming involved in the conflict.
Merz also speculated that the return of Donald Trump to the White House could lead to a significant shift in US policy towards Ukraine, suggesting that Trump might either withdraw support or escalate military assistance to Ukraine.
Regarding financial support for Ukraine, Merz opposed the idea of a new special fund, advocating instead for funding through the existing budget without incurring new debts. He reiterated Germany's commitment to increase its defense budget to at least two percent of GDP to ensure effective national defense.