Nicknamed “The Davos of Defense”, the Munich conference was perceived as crucial for the future of Ukraine. However, this great raout of world leaders, spread over two days, was above all marked by a hostile speech by the American vice-president JD Vance against the European Union and by the confirmation that the Americans were considering negotiations on the ‘Ukraine without their allies. Donald Trump’s right -hand man, however, repeated that “only the Ukrainians could decide to stop fighting, and we will support them as long as they have not made this decision”.
Volodymyr Zelensky called Europe to strengthen its armed forces and urged him to take independence from the United States. The Ukrainian president will surely have the opportunity to support his message again, this Monday, February 17, since the diplomatic marathon is not finished. French head of state Emmanuel Macron will indeed bring together in Paris “the main European countries” for discussions on “European security”, confirmed the head of French diplomacy, Jean-Noël Barrot.
Democracy according to JD Vance dresses Europeans
The American vice-president, JD Vance, allowed himself to give a lesson in democracy to the Europeans, marrying the views of the extremist parties and digging a little more the gap between Washington and the capitals of the old continent. The ex-somenator of Ohio delivered, at the Munich conference, a discourse against the historic allies of his country within NATO, with regard to respect for the right to vote and the freedom of ‘expression.
“In Great Britain and through Europe, freedom of expression, I fear, is behind,” he assumed, causing stupor in his audience. A “decline” that worries him “more than the threat of” Russia “,” China “or” another external actor “. The American president, Donald Trump, then followed the step of JD Vance, S ‘worrying to see Europe, according to him, “losing his wonderful right to freedom of expression”.
What annoy the head of French diplomacy, Jean-Noël Barrot, who wanted to recall that “freedom of expression is guaranteed in Europe”, adding on X that “no one is forced to adopt our model, but No one can impose on us. ” Same reaction on the German side, where the Minister of Defense, Boris Pistorius, said that these criticisms were “not acceptable”.
Volodymyr Zelensky wants a European army
The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has put their European allies under pressure, urging them to strengthen themselves to avoid an agreement forged by the Americans “on the back” of Ukraine and Europe. “I really believe that the time has come to create the armed forces of Europe,” urged the leader in front of an audience of international political leaders. “The time when America supported Europe simply because it had always done it is over,” he warned.
Words that referred to the interview, this week, of Donald Trump with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, without consultation with Europeans. And if he informed Volodymyr Zelensky, he did not try to get along beforehand with him on a negotiation strategy. In addition, the Ukrainian head of state added that kyiv would have “little chance of surviving” without the support of Washington, while JD Vance wanted to repeat his will of “lasting peace” in Ukraine. Finally, NATO secretary general, Mark Rutte, said that Europeans had to show their “utility” if they wanted to weigh in the negotiations between the United States and Russia in order to end hostilities in Ukraine.
Ukrainian minerals: kyiv refuses the agreement with Washington
Volodymyr Zelensky said that he had refused to sign an agreement with the United States on Ukrainian minerals, saying that he did not “protect” his country at this stage. “I have not authorized ministers to sign the agreement because it is not ready. In my opinion, it does not protect us,” he said, before adding that such Agreement had to include “security guarantees” for Ukraine. But “I do not yet see in the document this link” between minerals and protection, he said.
The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said Thursday that he hoped to reach an agreement on Ukrainian minerals which would “reimburse”, in part, the United States for the aid provided to Ukraine in order to finance war against Russia.
New meeting in Paris of “main European countries”
The leaders of the “main European countries” will meet this Monday in Paris for discussions on European security and Ukraine, when the American administration attacks the EU and intends to negotiate directly with Russia to put end to war. French President Emmanuel Macron will welcome “the main European countries” for discussions on “European security”, this Sunday unveiled the head of French diplomacy, Jean-Noël Barrot, on France Inter.
If he did not specify who would participate in this “work meeting”, a European diplomatic source believes that Germany, Poland, Italy, Denmark, as well as the United Kingdom, outside the EU, should be Around the table. European leaders Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa, as well as the chief of NATO Mark Rutte, will also be present, according to this source.