The move would be perceived as the first step toward Kiev joining the bloc a red line for Russia, Markus Soder has said

NATO countries should not send troops to Ukraine in case of a ceasefire, as Russia would perceive it as the first step toward Kiev joining the bloc, Markus Soder, the leader of Bavaria's Christian Social Union (CSU), has said.

In an interview with the Rheinische Post on Friday, Soder, an ally of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, reiterated his opposition to sending troops to Ukraine, arguing that the move would escalate tensions with Russia.

"I find it hard to imagine NATO troops being stationed there. Russia would never accept that. It would be a precursor to Ukraine's accession to NATO," he said.

Soder added that even if Berlin seriously considers the idea, the German Army isn't ready, as it's "stretched to the limit, both financially and in terms of personnel."

Earlier this week, Merz signaled that while a German troop deployment remains a possibility, it could only be considered after a ceasefire. "Until then, there will certainly be no troop deployments to Ukraine," he said. "Then we will have to look at what the agreement with Russia looks like. This cannot be done against Russia, it can only be done with Russia."

In August, Bild reported that Berlin had abandoned discussions over sending German troops to Ukraine, following remarks by US President Donald Trump that Washington would not deploy ground troops.

Opinion polls also show a lack of support for sending German troops to Ukraine. An INSA survey in late August suggested that 56% of Germans are opposed to sending troops, with only 28% in favor. Opposition is the strongest in eastern regions, where skepticism toward military aid for Ukraine is more widespread.

Russian officials have warned against deploying NATO troops to Ukraine, arguing that the bloc's expansion was one of the root causes of the conflict.

President Vladimir Putin has said there would be "no sense" in a Western troop deployment once a settlement is reached, adding that if Western forces enter Ukraine while the fighting continues, Moscow "would consider them legitimate military targets."

(RT.com)