Germany's Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has accused Russia of playing for time in peace negotiations regarding Ukraine, asserting that the Kremlin is not genuinely interested in achieving a ceasefire. Speaking to reporters in Brussels, Pistorius stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin is "only talking about a ceasefire on his terms," which include demands that Ukraine refrain from joining NATO and withdraw from occupied territories.
"Putin is clearly playing for time. Unfortunately, we have to say that he is not really interested in peace," Pistorius remarked. He added that there is currently no timetable for the ongoing ceasefire negotiations, during which the Kremlin has repeatedly refused a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire agreement.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that Russia and Ukraine would "immediately" begin ceasefire negotiations following separate calls with both leaders aimed at spurring progress in ending the three-year conflict. However, the timing and location of any talks remain uncertain, with Putin indicating that the process would take time.
Pistorius noted that Moscow has escalated its military actions against Ukraine since negotiations began, including launching the largest drone attack since the war started, targeting the Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk regions earlier this week. He reaffirmed Germany's support for the European Union in imposing further sanctions against Russia.
Additionally, Pistorius expressed openness to raising Germany's defense spending target to 5% of GDP, a notable increase from the current budget, which stands at around 2%. He stated that a defense budget of 3% would not suffice to meet NATO goals and proposed achieving the 5% target over the next 5 to 7 years through incremental annual increases of 0.2%.
"It's not about achieving 5% in one year," he clarified. "The most important thing is to start really refilling the NATO requirements." His comments build on those made by Germany's new Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who has backed Trump's push for NATO members to escalate defense spending to 5% of GDP.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has also pledged to enhance Germany's defense capabilities, aiming to make the Bundeswehr the strongest army in Europe while utilizing newly eased debt brake rules to free up additional funds for military spending. As the geopolitical landscape continues to evolve, the commitment to collective security remains paramount for Germany and its allies.
