Name: Why is Merz hesitant to commit troops to Ukraine? | DW News
Uploaded: 2026-01-09T16:54:07.000Z
Duration: 2 min 23 s
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Why is Friedrich Maertz so hesitant to commit peace troops for Ukraine?

Germany was the odd one out when France and Britain signed off on security guarantees this week.

That commitment would see them put boots on the ground inside Ukraine to prevent another attack by Russia after any kind of peace deal.

But Friedrich Matz wouldn't and couldn't go that far.

So why does the country that has already edged past the US to become Ukraine's largest supporter appear so flaky?

Once things get serious, there are two things you need to know.

First, unlike France, for instance, Germany's constitution requires a parliamentary vote for any foreign military deployment.

The so the Chancellor wasn't actually allowed to unilaterally commit to troops.

And secondly, Mats knows he still has some convincing to do for German boots on the ground, even within his own coalition camp.

And that's what he's doing right here in snowy Bavaria.

Mats is eager to dispel any fears amongst the csu, sister party of the conservative cdu, that he could be rushing into any military commitment.

Nobody wants to take MPs of the governing coalition so far outside their comfort zone unless absolutely necessary.

With a narrow 13 vote majority in parliament, Mats will need each and every member of his own conservative bloc on his side.

He'll also need the backing of his coalition partners, the Social Democrats.

But the party is traditionally seen as the political home of hardline pacifism.

Some of its members are even regarded as Russia friendly.

Getting their full support will be tough.

It means we're only likely to get a legally binding commitment from Germany once the terms of any peace deal and a potential international troop deployment are absolutely clear.

For now, Mats has given his word that Germany will.

But it's clear that without wider backing, he alone can't sign off on guarantees that that mean boosts on the ground in Ukraine.