BERLIN — German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius today criticized European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for publicly floating plans to send multinational troops to Ukraine as part of long-term security guarantees.

Pistorius said it was “fundamentally wrong” to discuss such options before peace negotiations.

“The European Union has no responsibilities and no competences when it comes to deploying troops — for anyone or for anything,” the minister told reporters at a defense industry site in the western German town of Troisdorf. “I would refrain from confirming or commenting on such considerations in any way.”

He acknowledged that governments are weighing what might be possible “under which conditions and reservations,” but stressed: “To discuss this publicly, at this point in time, I consider to be totally wrong.”

Pistorius was responding to von der Leyen’s weekend interview with the Financial Times, in which she said Europe was drawing up “pretty precise plans” for a multinational deployment to Ukraine as part of post-war security guarantees. 

The Commission chief said the plans could involve tens of thousands of troops from European countries, with U.S. backing in areas such as intelligence and command.

Von der Leyen argued that robust guarantees are “paramount” to protect Ukraine against future Russian aggression and to safeguard Europe’s own security. She has also welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s willingness to contribute what she described as an “Article-5-like security guarantee” for Kyiv, a reference to NATO’s common defense provision.

The idea of stationing Western troops in Ukraine is highly divisive. France and the U.K. are discussing the issue, the U.S. and other NATO countries like Poland have ruled out sending troops while others are unclear.