LONDON, February 25. /TASS/. France may station its fighter jets carrying nuclear weapons in Germany, if the US decides to withdraw its forces from Europe, the Daily Telegraph reported, citing sources.

According to an anonymous French official, "posting a few French nuclear jet fighters in Germany should not be difficult and would send a strong message" to Russia.

An unnamed diplomat in Berlin said that the French offer would increase pressure on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer "to do the same and prove he was serious about contributing to European security."

The newspaper added that Friedrich Merz, currently the main contender for the German chancellor’s seat from the CDU/CSU (Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union) bloc, "has called on Britain and France to extend their nuclear protection as he seeks ‘independence’ for Europe from Donald Trump’s America."

According to the Daily Telegraph, Merz recently said that Paris and London should discuss "whether their nuclear protection could also be extended" to Germany and cautioned that US President Donald Trump is now "indifferent to the fate of Europe."

On February 20, NBC reported, citing sources, that the United States was considering reducing its military presence in Europe due to its priorities in the Asia-Pacific region and on the border with Mexico. According to the TV channel, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Vladimir Zelensky "in a closed-door meeting that the United States may withdraw a significant number of its troops from Europe." This information was confirmed to NBC by five US officials and one official personally involved in the meeting between the two sides.