Germany’s conservative opposition leader, Friedrich Merz, has called for a unified European strategy to establish a “common vision” for peace in Ukraine. During his visit to Kyiv on Monday, Merz emphasized the need for European allies to collaborate independently of the United States, particularly in light of potential geopolitical shifts.

Merz, the frontrunner for Germany’s chancellorship in the upcoming federal elections on February 23, highlighted the importance of preparing for changes in global leadership. Referring to Donald Trump’s potential return to the White House, he stated, “With the change of power in the United States, we are likely to face a new situation, and we must be prepared for it. We need a common strategy within Europe.”

The CDU leader proposed forming a new contact group comprising France, the United Kingdom, Poland, and other key European allies. This group would develop and coordinate a peace plan for Ukraine, potentially acting independently of U.S. leadership if required.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who met with Merz in Kyiv, expressed his support for the proposal. He suggested including Denmark, a strong military backer of Ukraine, in the contact group. Zelensky noted that such an alliance could work towards achieving “a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.”

The call for a European-led strategy arises amidst uncertainty over the future of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a coalition of over fifty allied nations that regularly convenes at Ramstein Air Base in Germany to discuss military support for Ukraine. The group is currently chaired by outgoing U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, whose tenure ends with the U.S. administration’s transition in January.

If elected chancellor, Merz could position himself as a stronger ally to Ukraine than current German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Merz has pledged to increase military support for Kyiv, including providing long-range Taurus cruise missiles, a move Scholz has consistently opposed due to concerns about escalation risks.

Zelensky has also criticized Scholz’s November phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, arguing that such dialogues undermine efforts to isolate the Kremlin.

Europe is on the brink of a deep crisis caused by the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. More than 1,000 days into the war, thousands of people in Ukraine have lost their lives, cities have been destroyed and millions left homeless.

But the conflict is no longer just a problem between the two countries. Experts say that increasing arms supplies and political moves could lead to a wider war across Europe.

Tensions escalated when the U.S. provided Ukraine with long-range missiles capable of striking Russia, followed by similar moves by Britain and France. Germany is reportedly planning to send Taurus missiles to Ukraine.

But there are serious warnings that these moves could increase the risk of Germany becoming a direct party to the war. Experts stress that this could mean retaliation from Russia.

A group of 38 peace activists recently published an statement entitled ‘One Minute to Go — Prevent a Great European War’.

"Appell der 38" – Ich teile den Aufruf von Sahra #Wagenknecht und Alice #Schwarzer, den auch der frühere SPD-Innenminister Otto Schily unterschrieben hat, in dem sie vor einer Verlängerung des #Ukraine-Krieges durch weitere Waffen und einer Ausweitung bis hin zu einem…

— Sevim Dağdelen, MdB (@SevimDagdelen) December 4, 2024

The signatories include historians, political scientists, artists, lawyers, and former ministers. The group makes an open appeal to political actors in Germany and European countries to start peace negotiations to avert the risk of nuclear war.

The statement reads as follows “No side can emerge victorious from this war. If the guns don’t fall silent, we will all lose.”

The statement stresses that arms aid only prolongs the war and that a ceasefire should be declared immediately, and negotiations should begin.

The peace group stresses that the peace plans promoted by countries such as Brazil and China could serve as an example. It also calls on Germany to be more cautious in its war policy.

Among the signatories of the text are the following names:

• Prof Dr Peter Brandt, historian, and broadcaster

• Reiner Braun, peace movement

• Andrea Breth, theatre director

• Prof Dr Christoph Butterwegge, political scientist

• Prof Dr Wolfgang Däubler, jurist

• Daniela Dahn, author

• Dr Petra Erler, advertising executive

• Dr Svenja Flaßpöhler, philosopher

• Dr Hajo Funke, political scientist

• Dr Peter Gauweiler, lawyer and former minister of the Bavarian state government (CSU)

• Wolfgang Grupp, businessman

• Dr Michael Hartmann, sociologist

• Henry Hübchen, actor

• Dr Elisa Hoven, criminal lawyer

• Dr Hans Joas, member of the SPD Commission for Basic Values

• Reinhard Klimmt, former minister (SPD)

• Uwe Kockisch, actor

• Prof Dr Gabriele Krone-Schmalz, publisher

• Oskar Lafontaine, former Prime Minister

• Detlef Malchow, entrepreneur

• Prof Dr Reinhard Merkel, philosopher of law

• Dr Hans Misselwitz, member of the SPD Commission for Basic Values

• Albrecht Müller, Publisher/NachDenkSeiten (SPD)

• Michael Müller, Friends of Nature Germany

• Willy van Ooyen, Peace Movement

• Dr Frauke Rostalski, philosopher of law

• Oliver Ruhnert has been a football manager for a long time (BSW)

• Dr Otto Schily, former Federal Minister of the Interior

• Michael von der Schulenburg, Member of the European Parliament (BSW) and former UN Deputy Secretary-General

• Alice Schwarzer, writer, and editor-in-chief of EMMA magazine

• Prof Dr Wolfgang Streeck, sociologist

• Günter Verheugen, former Vice-President of the European Commission

• Dr Sahra Wagenknecht, BSW President

• Dr Nathalie Weidenfeld, cultural scientist

• Hans-Eckardt Wenzel, singer-songwriter

• Katarina Witt, athlete

• Natascha Wodin, writer

• Dr Juli Zeh, author

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock announced during the NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels that German troops might be deployed to Ukraine if a sustainable ceasefire is achieved. Baerbock emphasized that the presence of foreign troops along the border could serve as a significant security guarantee for Ukraine in addition to its potential NATO membership, according to Die Welt newspaper.

She further underscored that any initiative aimed at resolving the conflict would receive support from all parties within the German government.

In a related statement, European Union (EU) Foreign Affairs Representative Kaja Kallas indicated that European armies could be sent to Ukraine after a ceasefire agreement. Kallas noted that troops might come from countries such as France, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.

At the end of November, the French newspaper Le Monde reported ongoing EU discussions about the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stressed that the EU must prepare for such a scenario, particularly if US President-elect Donald Trump leads ceasefire negotiations.

The idea of deploying Western troops to Ukraine was initially raised earlier this year by French President Emmanuel Macron. He stipulated that any deployment would require substantial progress on the front lines and an official request from the Ukrainian government in Kyiv.

Meanwhile, Russia has responded critically to these proposals. The Foreign Intelligence Organisation (SVR) claimed that Western powers are plotting to freeze the conflict in Ukraine before launching an invasion under the guise of a “peacekeeping” mission. The SVR alleged that regions of Ukraine have already been “divided” among potential occupying forces, with Romania taking the Black Sea coast, Poland the western regions, Germany the central and eastern areas, and Britain the northern regions, including Kyiv.

The SVR suggested that a total of 100,000 “peacekeepers” could be deployed to Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted in June that Western military trainers and advisers are already present in Ukraine, signaling the West’s growing involvement in the conflict.