security conference
Ukraine demands cluster munitions and phosphorus incendiary weapons
Police officers stand in front of the Hotel Bayerischer Hof, the venue of the 59th Munich Security Conference (MSC). photo
© Sven Hoppe/dpa
There is no shortage of topics at the Munich Security Conference. The Ukrainian government deputy demands the delivery of controversial weapons. And then there is the balloon affair between the US and China.
After battle tanks and fighter jets, Ukraine presented its western allies with a new weapon they wanted to use in the fight against Russia at the Munich Security Conference. Deputy Prime Minister Olexander Kubrakow called for cluster munitions and phosphorus incendiary weapons – the use of both weapons is very controversial. Like Russia, his country also wants to use this “type of ordnance”. “It’s our territory.” He understands the difficulties because of conventions, but this type of ammunition can help to withstand the attackers.
Kubrakov was alluding to the fact that the use of cluster munitions is outlawed under international law. Cluster munitions are rockets and bombs that burst in mid-air over the target, releasing many small explosive devices. Phosphorus munitions can cause severe burns and poisoning in humans.
Kubrakov also campaigned again for the delivery of fighter jets. Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki made it clear that his country would be ready to deliver fighter jets to Ukraine together with other fighter jets. However, he named a “NATO decision” as a prerequisite for such a step.
Despite the drastic demands, it is unlikely that US Secretary of State Kamala Harris or British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will address them in their eagerly awaited speeches. Harris also wonders how she is going to deal with the balloon affair between the US and China.
Almost two weeks ago, the US military shot down a suspected spy balloon over the Atlantic off the coast of the state of South Carolina. The United States accuses China of wanting to spy on military installations. Beijing, on the other hand, speaks of a civilian research balloon that has gone off course.
Wallace sees “consensus” against quick delivery of fighter jets
British Defense Minister Ben Wallace sees broad agreement among the ranks of the allies that a rapid delivery of modern fighter jets to Ukraine is out of the question. This attitude is “a consensus among Western partners,” Wallace told Der Spiegel on the fringes of the Munich Security Conference. “There will be no quick deliveries of fighter jets, certainly not in this phase of the war, and almost certainly not in six months,” Wallace said, confirming statements made in the past few days.
Modern aircraft like the “Eurofighter” could “only be delivered to Ukraine after the war,” Wallace said. Pilot training takes a long time. In addition, you need a lot of technicians on the ground for operation. “Nevertheless, we are signaling our basic readiness to eventually take that step reiterates our determination to help Ukraine for as long as it takes,” Wallace said.
The minister warned against overly high expectations of the recently decided delivery of tanks to Ukraine. “Of course, the tanks will make the Ukrainians stronger, but they are not a magic potion that changes everything from one day to the next,” said the minister.
China’s top foreign policy leader Wang Yi in Munich
It is speculated that she or US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet China’s most important foreign policy leader, Wang Yi, on the sidelines of the meeting. There are great tensions in the already strained relationship between China and the USA.
US President Joe Biden defended the shooting – but at the same time requested a meeting with China’s head of state and party leader Xi Jinping. However, China reacted coolly to the offer of talks, which is why a meeting in Munich would be of great importance. Wang Yi was only promoted from the Foreign Ministry to the Communist Party’s Politburo in October, and he is also on the list of speakers in Munich.
After the security conference, Yi also wants to visit Moscow. Beijing has been supporting Russia so far – but at the G20 summit in November, together with the western countries, warned against the use of nuclear weapons.
Demands for criminal consequences for Putin
Meanwhile, calls for criminal consequences for Russian President Vladimir Putin have been raised again in Munich. Putin must be held accountable for the crime of aggression, “otherwise history will keep repeating itself,” demanded Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, according to the official translation at the security conference. Republican US Senator Lindsey Graham emphasized: “If Putin gets away with it, then the same thing will happen again in the future.”
The Russian war of aggression has now lasted almost a year. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy opened the conference by video address on Friday and unequivocally called for more arms deliveries, including fighter jets, and for faster decisions by the allies. In contrast to Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), Selenskyj expressed optimism that he would win the war against Russia this year. The prerequisite for this, however, are the corresponding deliveries of weapons.
The issue of arms deliveries to Ukraine is also at the top of the agenda at a foreign ministers’ round table discussion, in which Annalena Baerbock, US Secretary of State Blinken and her Ukrainian colleague Dmytro Kuleba also take part.