Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, has urged consideration of a potential Bundeswehr peacekeeping mission within Ukraine, stating that discussions regarding security guarantees for his country should not be approached with pre-defined limitations. In an interview with the “Handelsblatt”, Makeiev cautioned against establishing “red lines” in advance, specifically referencing the possibility of German military involvement. He reiterated that, in his view, Ukraine’s strongest security guarantee would remain full membership in NATO.
The ambassador firmly rejected any suggestion that Ukraine should cede territory as a condition for peace. He argued that allowing an aggressor to retain conquered lands would have devastating consequences for European security, undermining the international order and international law.
Makeiev also responded to calls from the CSU party to curtail social welfare payments to young Ukrainian men residing in Germany who are neither employed nor serving in the military in their homeland. He characterised these proposals as politically motivated rhetoric and expressed skepticism about their practical implementation. He emphasized, however, the mutual benefit of integrating Ukrainian residents into the German labor market, noting that approximately 34 percent of Ukrainians in Germany have already found employment, a figure he deemed respectable given the significant number of women and small children among those who have sought refuge in the country.
