Vance’s MSC speech stirs controversy, ignores Ukraine crisis

English , International - بین الاقوامی , Snippets , / Saturday, February 15th, 2025

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RKI Network
At the Munich Security Conference (MSC), U.S. Vice President JD Vance stunned delegates by sidestepping discussions on Ukraine’s war and Europe’s defense spending, instead launching a scathing attack on Washington’s allies, including Britain. His remarks, criticizing misinformation, migration policies, and free speech restrictions, were met with silence.
Vance’s speech, which lacked focus on Ukraine’s defense needs, was widely seen as aimed at U.S. domestic audiences rather than European policymakers. Despite the misstep, he later met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who described the conversation as “positive” and emphasized the urgency of a clear U.S.-Ukraine strategy to counter Russian aggression.
Meanwhile, tensions soared as U.S. President Donald Trump effectively ruled out restoring Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders, undercutting Kyiv’s negotiating position. His administration also dashed Ukraine’s NATO hopes and reaffirmed that no U.S. troops would be deployed to defend its borders.
Adding to European concerns, Trump’s recent 90-minute phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin raised fears that in Washington’s haste to broker a peace deal, Moscow could emerge stronger, emboldened to seize more territory.
European leaders at MSC are set to discuss Ukraine’s war strategy in a high-profile debate, amid growing unease over the shifting stance of the U.S. under Trump’s leadership.