Germany will take part in security guarantees for Ukraine, vice chancellor says

BERLIN (Reuters) -Berlin will take part in providing security guarantees for Ukraine alongside European partners but the talks are at an early stage and must be shaped by Kyiv, German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil said on Monday in Ukraine's capital.

"What's important is that, in the end, there are security guarantees that ensure Ukraine is no longer attacked and that Putin no longer dares to attack Ukraine," said Klingbeil in his first visit to Ukraine.

Klingbeil, who also serves as Germany's finance minister, said in order to achieve that goal the Ukrainian army needed to be strengthened and arms production inside Ukraine needed to be ramped up.

Klingbeil said Germany would "assume responsibility" in providing security guarantees, but that decisions must not be taken "over the heads of Ukrainians" and any negotiation process must start with a ceasefire.

U.S. President Donald Trump has pressed for a quick end to the war, but Kyiv and its allies are concerned he could seek to force an agreement on Russia's terms.

"The ball is now in Vladimir Putin's court," Klingbeil said. "I believe that we still have a very long way to go, because I cannot yet see Vladimir Putin changing his mind, suddenly relenting, suddenly wanting to hold real, serious, sustainable peace talks."

(Reporting by Christian Kraemer and Maria Martinez, Editing by Friederike Heine)