The head of the European People's Party (EPP) - the largest political faction in the European Parliament, Mr. Manfred Weber, publicly called on Germany to deploy troops to Ukraine as part of a potential peace agreement.
Speaking in an interview with Funke Media Group, Mr. Weber said that the EU cannot continue to expect the US to ensure peace between Russia and Ukraine.
According to Mr. Weber, if Europe talks about deploying peacekeeping forces, then Germany cannot stand aside. The EU cannot seriously expect Mr. Trump to guarantee a peace agreement with only US troops. After a ceasefire or peace agreement, the European flag must be present along the line of contact.
This statement immediately sparked a heated debate, because Russia has long considered all forms of NATO military presence in Ukraine as a red line. Russia has repeatedly affirmed that NATO's expansion to the east is one of the root causes leading to the current conflict.
In the context of volatile US politics and Washington's ability to adjust its role in Ukraine, Mr. Weber called on the EU to act more independently on security issues.
According to him, Europe needs to show "strength and determination" instead of continuing to depend on the US.
This view reflects the increasingly widespread psychology among EU leaders, especially when some countries such as France and the UK have repeatedly mentioned the possibility of deploying troops to Ukraine in different forms.
This idea was further promoted after discussions in Berlin earlier this month, where US officials met with representatives of Ukraine and leaders of Germany, France, Britain and 8 other European countries.
However, the plan has not yet taken a clear shape. President Donald Trump's administration has not confirmed the level of support for any European-led initiatives related to military deployment in Ukraine. This ambiguity further puts pressure on the EU to define its strategic role.
On the Russian side, the reaction is still consistent. Moscow has repeatedly denied the possibility that NATO, whether directly or indirectly, will set foot on Ukrainian territory. Russia affirms its readiness to resolve the conflict peacefully, but only when the "root causes" - including security issues and NATO expansion - are seriously resolved.
According to Moscow, discussing deploying European troops to Ukraine only increases tensions and drags back negotiation prospects.
Mr. Weber's proposal also faced warnings right within NATO. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that the EU's attempt to build alternative security structures or in parallel with the US-led alliance will not benefit European members.
Meanwhile, in Germany, sending soldiers abroad is always a sensitive political and legal issue. Any decision related to military deployment can also face strong opposition in public opinion and parliament.
