German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has criticized European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen for her public statements about plans to deploy a multinational military contingent in Ukraine as part of long-term security guarantees for Kyiv after the war.

According to Pistorius, it is “fundamentally wrong” to discuss such options before peace talks begin, Politico writes.

“The European Union has no responsibility and no authority in matters of troop deployment — for anyone or for anything. I would be very cautious about confirming or commenting on such considerations,” he added, according to DW.

According to Pistorius, governments are weighing up what is possible “under what conditions and with what reservations.” “I consider it completely wrong to discuss this publicly at this stage,” the German defense minister stressed.