At this year’s Munich Security Conference, US Vice President JD Vance surprised delegates with a fiery speech criticizing European allies over free speech and migration instead of focusing on the Ukraine war or European defense. His remarks, met with silence, seemed aimed at a US audience, rather than the international stage.
Despite the rocky speech, Vance met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who emphasized the need for continued US-Ukrainian collaboration to stop Russian aggression. Zelensky reiterated Ukraine’s desire for peace but stressed the importance of strong security guarantees.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump’s recent call with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the softening US stance on Ukraine’s NATO membership have alarmed European leaders. Many fear Trump’s push for peace may lead to further Russian territorial gains in Europe.