Paris, 17 February 2025 (dpa/MIA) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has again rejected a debate about sending European peacekeeping forces to Ukraine as "completely premature," following an emergency summit of European leaders to discuss plans by US President Donald Trump to end the war.

"I am even a little irritated by these debates," Scholz said after the meeting hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.

Scholz said that such debates revolved around possible outcomes of peace talks that have not yet taken place, without involving the Ukrainians. "To put it bluntly, this is highly inappropriate," the German leader said.

The debate comes "at the wrong time and on the wrong subject," said Scholz. "We are not yet at peace, but in the midst of a brutal war waged by Russia."

Ahead of the summit, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was willing to send peacekeeping forces to Ukraine if necessary.

Macron, for his part, has been pushing for a European peacekeeping force for longer. Speaking ahead of the summit, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot reported that very tangible talks on the subject were taking place "at various levels."

Scholz stressed that he was fundamentally against sending peacekeeping forces to Ukraine without US involvement.

"There must be no sharing of security and responsibility between Europe and the US," he said. NATO was based on the principles of cooperation and risk-sharing, Scholz noted. "This must not be called into question."