German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that the country should be ready for war by 2029, Zeit online reported.
During a government hearing, Pistorius was asked whether the German armed forces planned to send troops to Ukraine. The minister categorically stated that Germany will not send its forces to Ukrainian soil against the Russian army.
However, Pistorius wants to strengthen the operational readiness of the Bundeswehr. “We have to be ready for war by 2029,”, Pistorius said in view of the threat from Russia. “We need to provide deterrence to prevent things from getting to the worst.“
According to him, finances, materials and personnel are key to the best condition of the Bundeswehr. “In times of emergency, we need brave young women and men to defend this country,” Pistorius said.
That is why he considers a “new form of military service” necessary, which cannot be “completely free of duties”. The publication recalls that the federal government ended compulsory military service in 2011. Pistorius is expected to present proposals for a possible reintroduction soon.
Because of Russia's full-scale military aggression against Ukraine since 2022, NATO countries have agreed that they must do more for their own security. French President Emmanuel Macron said he does not rule out sending ground forces to Ukraine at some point, but such a decision has not yet been made in the Alliance and there is no consensus on it. Most countries, including the US, are against it.