Two German security experts propose that western troops secure a future ceasefire in Ukraine.

The three-star retired general Heinrich Brauss and the chairman of the Munich Security Conference, Christoph Heusgen, told FAZ.NET that a Western military presence was the only way to guarantee that Russia would stick to possible agreements.

Heusgen was Chancellor Angela Merkel's chief foreign policy adviser until 2017 and then Germany's permanent representative at the United Nations.

Brauss was Assistant Secretary General of NATO until 2018.

Konrad Schuller

Political correspondent for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sunday newspaper in Berlin.

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Heusgen said that despite Ukraine's recent military successes, no one knows "when a ceasefire or peace between Ukraine and Russia will be possible."

At the moment one should not “get high hopes” here.

If that were to happen, however, "a lasting peace would only be possible if one draws the right lesson from Putin's repeated breach of promises made by Russia regarding Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity".

Putin's word "cannot be relied on" and therefore "a lasting peace is only possible if the Western allies give strong guarantees for Ukraine's security".

This includes “a promise of assistance that corresponds to that of Article Five of the NATO treaty and then also includes NATO troops in the country itself”.

“A moderate front presence”

The chairman of the Munich Security Conference also commented on the proposal to accept Ukraine as a regular member of NATO.

This was what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for last week, and nine NATO member states from Eastern Europe had supported the idea.

Germany, on the other hand, prevented Ukraine from being admitted to the alliance as early as 2008, at the beginning of Angela Merkel's chancellorship, through a "Membership Action Plan".

Merkel's adviser at the time, Heusgen, now said that unlike at the time, when NATO "for good reasons" refused Kyiv membership, "after the Russian breach of civilization it must now be ready to accept Ukraine after the end of the conflict".

If this cannot be enforced in the alliance, "the alliance must give guarantees that prevent Russia from attacking Ukraine again at the first opportunity".

The alliance would then “ultimately protect Ukraine in the same way as the Baltic States do today”.

Brauss also admitted that nobody knew "when a peace or a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia will be possible".

But if he comes, he must be secured "by Western security guarantees".

“This is only possible with western troops on the territory of Ukraine.

These would have to be so credible that Russia would be deterred from a new attack.

Like Heusgen, Brauss also believes that Ukraine “probably cannot become a NATO member” because the alliance generally does not accept new members with unresolved external conflicts.

However, "a coalition of the willing from NATO allies could take over the protection of Ukraine".

The Alliance could "call for this without participating as an organization" and the EU could support this politically and financially.

In such a coalition, “America would definitely have to be there,” because the greatest deterrent effect emanates from the US armed forces.

But at the same time the group should “represent the entire western alliance”.

Because America does not want to tie up too many forces in Europe because of the dangers in the Far East, enough Europeans have to take part.

"It will not work without countries like Germany, France and Great Britain."

Regarding the form of a possible protection mission, Brauss said that the Western troops to protect a ceasefire "do not have to be too strong".

It is enough "a moderate front presence with the certainty of being able to strengthen it quickly.

A structure that shows determination and defence, but is not inherently offensive, and which poses no threat to Russia.”