Germany supports providing Ukraine with security guarantees close to level of NATO membership

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has said that Ukraine will need security guarantees that will be as close as possible to the level of NATO membership, DW reports.

"We cannot demand that Ukraine seriously consider territorial concessions unless it receives at least real security guarantees from as many states as possible, that at least the rest will be safe," he said on Sunday, August 24, during the German government's Open Day.

According to Wadephul, such guarantees could become the basis for convincing Russian President Vladimir Putin and at the same time would not pose any threat to Russia. "Then this could become the basis for us in Europe to finally have peace again," the minister noted.

The head of the German Foreign Ministry emphasized that he expects a wide range of states ready to provide Ukraine with security guarantees for the post-war period. "It is important that the United States join this process. About 30 states, including Japan, have expressed their readiness to support Ukraine," the publication quoted him as saying.

At the same time, Wadephul stressed that "violation of the security guarantee would be an attack on Ukraine."

The minister also stressed that the peace treaty with the Russian Federation should not become a "dictatorial peace" to the detriment of Ukraine. He called on the Russian president to stop aggression and sit down at the negotiating table. "Otherwise, he should take into account our decisive resistance on the side of Ukraine," the head of the German Foreign Ministry said.