German troops will not enter Ukrainian soil as long as war continues: Defense minister

BERLIN (AA) – Germany’s defense minister on Saturday said German troops would not be stationed in Ukraine as long as the country's war with Russia continues.

"I want to clarify one thing; as long as the war is ongoing, there will be no German soldiers on Ukrainian soil," Boris Pistorius told a press conference.

He added that the issue could be discussed once a cease-fire or peace agreement is reached.

Pistorius said the specifics of how this would unfold could only be determined once the situation becomes clearer.

"For example, will there be a border line, a buffer zone, or a peacekeeping area where armed forces maintain peace? As you can see, many things are still unclear before we can say anything definitively," he said.

Germany has provided military aid to Ukraine since the war began in February 2022, but has opposed proposals on sending ground troops to aid the war effort.

*Writing by Esra Tekin in Istanbul