Munich Security Conference
“Protective shield” against Russia: President of Ukraine calls for an end to the West’s policy of appeasement
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj delivers an urgent speech at the Munich Security Conference
© Tobias Hase / DPA
In his speech at the Munich Security Conference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made several demands on the West.
In view of the threat of an invasion by Russian troops, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the West to abandon its policy of appeasement towards Russia. “We have the right to demand a change from a policy of appeasement to a policy that ensures security and peace,” Zelenskyy said in a speech at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday. He also called for a “clear” time frame for joining NATO.
Selenskyj described his country as Europe’s “shield” against Russia. “For eight years Ukraine held back one of the largest armies in the world,” he said. His country deserves more international support; it has no weapons and no security.
Zelenskyj’s visit to Munich had previously caused astonishment among some Western partners. US President Joe Biden said on Friday that given the risk of Zelenskyy invading, it was “perhaps not the wisest decision” to attend the Munich Security Conference. “But it’s his choice,” Biden added.
Zelenskyj negotiates military support
Selenskyj met Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and US Vice President Kamala Harris on the sidelines of the conference. He expects “concrete agreements on the provision of additional military and financial support for our country,” his office said. Selenskyj will return to Kiev late Saturday evening.
The Russian troop deployment, which according to Western figures comprises around 150,000 soldiers, has been stoking fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine for weeks. Moscow rejects any plans of attack and says it feels threatened by NATO.
The escalation of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, where the government army and the separatists supported by Russia have been fighting since 2014, caused additional concern on Saturday. In the West, there are fears that Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin could use the fighting there as an excuse to invade Ukraine as feared, claiming that he must protect the pro-Russian population in eastern Ukraine. Chancellor Olaf Scholz once again warned Russia against an attack and called for negotiations again. US Vice President spoke of a “script of Russian aggression”. “We are now receiving reports of apparent provocation and we are seeing Russia spreading misinformation, lies and propaganda,” Harris said. Scholz called for further negotiations. The claim must now be: “As much diplomacy as possible without being naive.”