The Europeans are anything but in agreement about sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine. However, talks on this are now likely to become more concrete: According to US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin would agree to European peacekeeping troops to secure a possible ceasefire in Ukraine. “Yes, he would accept that,” the Republican said when asked on the sidelines of a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron in Washington.
According to his own statement, Trump wants to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy this week or next. The meeting is about an agreement on US access to raw materials stored in Ukraine, among other things. “We are getting very close to an agreement,” said Trump.
Macron and Trump met in Washington yesterday, on the third anniversary of the start of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine. “We have a role to play within the framework of the security guarantees,” said Macron. Together with its British partners, France had consulted on the guarantees in recent weeks, including the deployment of troops. At a mini-summit in Paris a few days ago, Macron wanted to win over as many partners as possible for these considerations, but was met with rejection by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Things seem to be more harmonious with the likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz. Merz reported yesterday that he had discussed Macron’s messages to Trump with him and found “complete agreement.” Read Till Hoppe’s analysis to find out what Merz is planning for European defense.
I wish you a harmonious Tuesday.
Friedrich Merz is far from being Chancellor, but the winner of the Bundestag elections from the CDU is already setting the tone for his European policy. Yesterday, Merz reported that he had discussed his messages to Donald Trump with French President Emmanuel Macron and found “complete agreement.” He is also seeking close contact with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Merz said, as well as with smaller countries such as the Baltic states. The message must be very clear: “Europe is united and cohesive.”
Merz wants Germany to regain a leading role in the EU under his aegis, closely coordinated with important partners. And he insists that willing member states lead the way. Always waiting for a consensus among the 27 will “not be realistic,” he said. But there is no time: “It really is high time for Europe.”
The task could hardly be greater: At the latest at the NATO summit at the end of June, we will see how resilient the relationship with the USA still is, says Merz – and how the Europeans are positioning themselves for this. The staunch transatlanticist has not given up hope that US President Trump will still recognize the value of the alliance with Europe. But we must prepare for the worst-case scenario, Merz warns: That the new US administration will not only pursue an “America First” policy, but also an “America Alone” policy.
The issue of defense capability is therefore a top priority for him. The sums required are huge: A study by the think tank Bruegel with the Kiel Institute for the World Economy puts the additional financial requirement in Europe at EUR 250 billion per year in order to be able to defend itself against an attack by Russia without US support. The experts suggest raising half of this from national budgets and the other half through debt for joint arms procurement.
According to this, Germany alone would have to mobilize more than EUR 60 billion in additional funds. “We all know that the Bundeswehr will need a lot more money in the coming years,” said Merz. However, the blocking minority of the AfD and the Left Party in the new Bundestag makes it difficult for him to relax the debt brake or decide on a new special fund.
Merz therefore wants to discuss the option of passing the necessary amendment to the Basic Law with a two-thirds majority of the old Bundestag with the leaders of the SPD’s likely coalition partners, the Greens and the FDP this week. Even before the official exploratory negotiations with the SPD, which are due to begin after carnival on March 6, Merz wants to sound out with party leader Lars Klingbeil how the financing issues can be clarified.
The Greens had proposed an amendment to the debt brake before the new Bundestag is constituted on March 24. After the deadline, Merz would have to rely on the approval of the Left Party. This party rejects a new special fund for the Bundeswehr. A fundamental reform of the debt brake, on the other hand, would be possible with them – but the CDU/CSU is unlikely to be willing to do this.
The route via Brussels is also not very attractive for the CDU and CSU. An exception to the EU debt rules, as promised by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, would not help Merz, as the German debt brake continues to apply. Basically, the only option would be joint EU debt, for example in the form of defense bonds, as demanded by several EU states. However, this would mean that a CDU-led federal government would be entering the “debt union” that the party has always warned against.
The chancellor-designate will have to find a solution in the coming weeks in order to meet his own demands. Merz has formulated the ambition of becoming more powerful again with the new federal government. To this end, he wants to strengthen the Federal Chancellery as the center of power.
The major issues of internal and external security are to be dealt with there by a National Security Council. Merz also wants to strengthen the role of the Chancellery in positioning European policy issues. However, without completely disempowering the Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs, which have coordinated European policy in the Federal Government to date. As a likely coalition partner, the SPD would hardly support this if the Social Democrats were to claim the AA for themselves.
However, Merz said in a speech at the Körber Foundation at the end of January that the Federal Chancellery should “become more involved in key European policy issues in the future.” To this end, the European Department is also to be expanded in terms of personnel.
Michael Clauß, the former EU ambassador in Brussels, is being touted as the Chancellor’s European policy advisor. The diplomat, who has no party affiliation, is also held in high regard by Merz. Should Clauß not be available, other candidates would come into play.
According to reports, this includes Michael Hager, currently Head of Cabinet for Economic Affairs Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis. The former colleague of Günther Oettinger is very well connected in Brussels, but less so in Berlin. With Stefan Braun
The EU has reaffirmed its course in its Ukraine policy, but at the same time declared its willingness to participate in possible negotiations with the USA and Russia on an end to the war. One week before a special summit on Ukraine planned for March 6 in Brussels, there is talk of a special European envoy for the first time.
“I believe that we will strengthen our European position if we manage to have a joint special envoy who represents not only the EU but also the other European countries,” said Council President António Costa in Kyiv on Monday. It initially remained unclear who could assume this position.
So far, France’s head of state Emmanuel Macron has been the main proponent of a joint negotiating position. After two crisis meetings with the EU states in Paris, he traveled to Washington on Monday for talks with US President Donald Trump. It remains to be seen whether he will also be able to represent the EU in possible negotiations.
It is important that Europe participates in the talks, said Costa in Kyiv. The Portuguese named “friends such as Norway, Iceland and the United Kingdom” as potential supporters of a possible special envoy. He said that details would be discussed at the special EU summit in a week’s time.
Costa traveled to Kyiv together with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, 21 Commissioners and several European heads of state and government to express their continued and unreserved solidarity with Ukraine on the third anniversary of the Russian invasion. The EU foreign ministers met in Brussels at the same time.
This led to a number of disagreements. For example, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas declared in Brussels that there could be no peace settlement without the EU or Ukraine. “No deal can work without us,” she said. However, Kallas did not mention a special envoy. It also remained unclear what solution the EU had in mind.
So far, only the USA has outlined a peace plan, which – as far as is known – incorporates Russia’s key demands. The EU has not presented its own plan, but has cited the “peace formula” presented by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in 2022 and emphasized that Ukraine must decide for itself what form a solution can take.
“We must support Ukraine more than ever,” emphasized Kallas. In addition to the 16th package of sanctions against Russia, which was formally adopted at the meeting of foreign ministers, she announced further aid packages for Ukraine. There is talk of at least 1.5 million rounds of ammunition as well as air defense systems, missiles and drones.
Various figures are circulating regarding the financial requirements, ranging from six billion euros to 30 billion euros. According to Kallas, she expects a decision by the beginning of March. At the same time, she dampened hopes that the frozen Russian assets could be used for financing. So far there is no consensus.
Belgium and France, as well as the European Central Bank, have raised concerns about the confiscation of Russian central bank assets frozen in the EU. The ECB fears that this could shake investors’ confidence in the euro. In contrast, Kallas emphasizes that Russia must pay reparations.
Commission President von der Leyen commented on Ukraine’s accession to the EU. She said in Kyiv that partial integration of the country into the internal market was already possible this year. She cited the “Roam like home” telecommunications program as an example.
At the special summit on March 6, she will present the long-awaited plan to expand European arms production and defense capacities, von der Leyen continued. She also announced a new financial injection of EUR 3.5 billion for Ukraine. The money is due to flow in March.
The Commission’s program also includes further support for the Ukrainian energy sector. Brussels wants to promote the filling of gas storage facilities in Ukraine: “This will lead to sufficient gas reserves, which will ensure security of supply and benefit both Ukraine and the entire region.”
EU states are also likely to be involved. Kyiv proposed to its Western partners some time ago to use the Ukrainian storage facilities for their energy security. The Commission also wants to use the Ukraine Facility to provide investment aid for renewable energies with a capacity of 1.5 gigawatts. This would correspond to around 500 new wind turbines, for example.
Ukraine is also expected to implement outstanding rules for the EU electricity market by spring 2027. Last September, the Commission had already announced aid amounting to EUR 156 million for the severely damaged Ukrainian energy system and better connections to EU countries. Ukraine and Moldova had already connected their electricity grids to those of the European Union in March 2022.
The Europeans are anything but in agreement about sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine. However, talks on this are now likely to become more concrete: According to US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin would agree to European peacekeeping troops to secure a possible ceasefire in Ukraine. “Yes, he would accept that,” the Republican said when asked on the sidelines of a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron in Washington.
According to his own statement, Trump wants to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy this week or next. The meeting is about an agreement on US access to raw materials stored in Ukraine, among other things. “We are getting very close to an agreement,” said Trump.
Macron and Trump met in Washington yesterday, on the third anniversary of the start of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine. “We have a role to play within the framework of the security guarantees,” said Macron. Together with its British partners, France had consulted on the guarantees in recent weeks, including the deployment of troops. At a mini-summit in Paris a few days ago, Macron wanted to win over as many partners as possible for these considerations, but was met with rejection by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Things seem to be more harmonious with the likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz. Merz reported yesterday that he had discussed Macron’s messages to Trump with him and found “complete agreement.” Read Till Hoppe’s analysis to find out what Merz is planning for European defense.
I wish you a harmonious Tuesday.
Friedrich Merz is far from being Chancellor, but the winner of the Bundestag elections from the CDU is already setting the tone for his European policy. Yesterday, Merz reported that he had discussed his messages to Donald Trump with French President Emmanuel Macron and found “complete agreement.” He is also seeking close contact with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Merz said, as well as with smaller countries such as the Baltic states. The message must be very clear: “Europe is united and cohesive.”
Merz wants Germany to regain a leading role in the EU under his aegis, closely coordinated with important partners. And he insists that willing member states lead the way. Always waiting for a consensus among the 27 will “not be realistic,” he said. But there is no time: “It really is high time for Europe.”
The task could hardly be greater: At the latest at the NATO summit at the end of June, we will see how resilient the relationship with the USA still is, says Merz – and how the Europeans are positioning themselves for this. The staunch transatlanticist has not given up hope that US President Trump will still recognize the value of the alliance with Europe. But we must prepare for the worst-case scenario, Merz warns: That the new US administration will not only pursue an “America First” policy, but also an “America Alone” policy.
The issue of defense capability is therefore a top priority for him. The sums required are huge: A study by the think tank Bruegel with the Kiel Institute for the World Economy puts the additional financial requirement in Europe at EUR 250 billion per year in order to be able to defend itself against an attack by Russia without US support. The experts suggest raising half of this from national budgets and the other half through debt for joint arms procurement.
According to this, Germany alone would have to mobilize more than EUR 60 billion in additional funds. “We all know that the Bundeswehr will need a lot more money in the coming years,” said Merz. However, the blocking minority of the AfD and the Left Party in the new Bundestag makes it difficult for him to relax the debt brake or decide on a new special fund.
Merz therefore wants to discuss the option of passing the necessary amendment to the Basic Law with a two-thirds majority of the old Bundestag with the leaders of the SPD’s likely coalition partners, the Greens and the FDP this week. Even before the official exploratory negotiations with the SPD, which are due to begin after carnival on March 6, Merz wants to sound out with party leader Lars Klingbeil how the financing issues can be clarified.
The Greens had proposed an amendment to the debt brake before the new Bundestag is constituted on March 24. After the deadline, Merz would have to rely on the approval of the Left Party. This party rejects a new special fund for the Bundeswehr. A fundamental reform of the debt brake, on the other hand, would be possible with them – but the CDU/CSU is unlikely to be willing to do this.
The route via Brussels is also not very attractive for the CDU and CSU. An exception to the EU debt rules, as promised by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, would not help Merz, as the German debt brake continues to apply. Basically, the only option would be joint EU debt, for example in the form of defense bonds, as demanded by several EU states. However, this would mean that a CDU-led federal government would be entering the “debt union” that the party has always warned against.
The chancellor-designate will have to find a solution in the coming weeks in order to meet his own demands. Merz has formulated the ambition of becoming more powerful again with the new federal government. To this end, he wants to strengthen the Federal Chancellery as the center of power.
The major issues of internal and external security are to be dealt with there by a National Security Council. Merz also wants to strengthen the role of the Chancellery in positioning European policy issues. However, without completely disempowering the Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs, which have coordinated European policy in the Federal Government to date. As a likely coalition partner, the SPD would hardly support this if the Social Democrats were to claim the AA for themselves.
However, Merz said in a speech at the Körber Foundation at the end of January that the Federal Chancellery should “become more involved in key European policy issues in the future.” To this end, the European Department is also to be expanded in terms of personnel.
Michael Clauß, the former EU ambassador in Brussels, is being touted as the Chancellor’s European policy advisor. The diplomat, who has no party affiliation, is also held in high regard by Merz. Should Clauß not be available, other candidates would come into play.
According to reports, this includes Michael Hager, currently Head of Cabinet for Economic Affairs Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis. The former colleague of Günther Oettinger is very well connected in Brussels, but less so in Berlin. With Stefan Braun
The EU has reaffirmed its course in its Ukraine policy, but at the same time declared its willingness to participate in possible negotiations with the USA and Russia on an end to the war. One week before a special summit on Ukraine planned for March 6 in Brussels, there is talk of a special European envoy for the first time.
“I believe that we will strengthen our European position if we manage to have a joint special envoy who represents not only the EU but also the other European countries,” said Council President António Costa in Kyiv on Monday. It initially remained unclear who could assume this position.
So far, France’s head of state Emmanuel Macron has been the main proponent of a joint negotiating position. After two crisis meetings with the EU states in Paris, he traveled to Washington on Monday for talks with US President Donald Trump. It remains to be seen whether he will also be able to represent the EU in possible negotiations.
It is important that Europe participates in the talks, said Costa in Kyiv. The Portuguese named “friends such as Norway, Iceland and the United Kingdom” as potential supporters of a possible special envoy. He said that details would be discussed at the special EU summit in a week’s time.
Costa traveled to Kyiv together with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, 21 Commissioners and several European heads of state and government to express their continued and unreserved solidarity with Ukraine on the third anniversary of the Russian invasion. The EU foreign ministers met in Brussels at the same time.
This led to a number of disagreements. For example, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas declared in Brussels that there could be no peace settlement without the EU or Ukraine. “No deal can work without us,” she said. However, Kallas did not mention a special envoy. It also remained unclear what solution the EU had in mind.
So far, only the USA has outlined a peace plan, which – as far as is known – incorporates Russia’s key demands. The EU has not presented its own plan, but has cited the “peace formula” presented by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in 2022 and emphasized that Ukraine must decide for itself what form a solution can take.
“We must support Ukraine more than ever,” emphasized Kallas. In addition to the 16th package of sanctions against Russia, which was formally adopted at the meeting of foreign ministers, she announced further aid packages for Ukraine. There is talk of at least 1.5 million rounds of ammunition as well as air defense systems, missiles and drones.
Various figures are circulating regarding the financial requirements, ranging from six billion euros to 30 billion euros. According to Kallas, she expects a decision by the beginning of March. At the same time, she dampened hopes that the frozen Russian assets could be used for financing. So far there is no consensus.
Belgium and France, as well as the European Central Bank, have raised concerns about the confiscation of Russian central bank assets frozen in the EU. The ECB fears that this could shake investors’ confidence in the euro. In contrast, Kallas emphasizes that Russia must pay reparations.
Commission President von der Leyen commented on Ukraine’s accession to the EU. She said in Kyiv that partial integration of the country into the internal market was already possible this year. She cited the “Roam like home” telecommunications program as an example.
At the special summit on March 6, she will present the long-awaited plan to expand European arms production and defense capacities, von der Leyen continued. She also announced a new financial injection of EUR 3.5 billion for Ukraine. The money is due to flow in March.
The Commission’s program also includes further support for the Ukrainian energy sector. Brussels wants to promote the filling of gas storage facilities in Ukraine: “This will lead to sufficient gas reserves, which will ensure security of supply and benefit both Ukraine and the entire region.”
EU states are also likely to be involved. Kyiv proposed to its Western partners some time ago to use the Ukrainian storage facilities for their energy security. The Commission also wants to use the Ukraine Facility to provide investment aid for renewable energies with a capacity of 1.5 gigawatts. This would correspond to around 500 new wind turbines, for example.
Ukraine is also expected to implement outstanding rules for the EU electricity market by spring 2027. Last September, the Commission had already announced aid amounting to EUR 156 million for the severely damaged Ukrainian energy system and better connections to EU countries. Ukraine and Moldova had already connected their electricity grids to those of the European Union in March 2022.
