Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Europe to take the threat of further war seriously and to build a common army, emphasizing that “decisions about Europe must be made in Europe.”
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, the Ukrainian President declared, “I believe in Europe and I urge you to act for your own sake, for your nations, your homes, your children, and our shared future.”
“We need confidence in our strength so that others respect European power,” he added.
Earlier, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticized US Vice President JD Vance for interfering in German affairs, calling his remarks “unacceptable” during a tense speech at the conference. Scholz directly confronted Vance, admonishing him for his recent criticism of European countries' handling of the hard-right political movement.
Defending Europe’s role in peace efforts in Kyiv, Scholz referenced US President Donald Trump’s recent assertion that he had agreed with President Putin to begin “negotiations” to end the war.
Vance, speaking on Friday, had accused European nations of allowing their “fundamental values” to erode, suggesting that this was a greater threat to democracy than Russia. He also criticized Europe’s political elites for suppressing free speech and failing to control immigration.
In a meeting with Vance, President Zelensky emphasized the need for “security guarantees” ahead of any peace talks, warning that Ukraine has a “low chance” of survival without continued military support from the US.
Zelensky stressed that NATO membership was crucial for real peace, stating, “If not NATO, then we must build another NATO in Ukraine.”
“Where the border is drawn is up to us. My proposal is Ukraine’s eastern border, as it represents the strongest boundary under international law,” he added.
He called for unified pressure to achieve real peace and concluded with a hopeful remark: “The new year begins with the Munich Security Conference. Let this be the year of peace in Ukraine and peace for the world.” His declaration that “we will never accept deals made behind our back without our involvement” was met with loud applause.
Zelensky also warned that Putin seeks direct talks with the US to “carve up the world.” He questioned, “Does America need you as an ally? I don’t know. For the answer to be ‘yes,’ Europe must speak with one voice.”
“Some may be frustrated with Brussels. If not Brussels, then Moscow—it is your decision,” he warned.
Speaking to NBC News, Zelensky reiterated the importance of US support, saying, “You know the difficult situation. We have a low chance of survival without the support of the United States.” He called for the creation of a European armed forces, arguing, “Money alone will not stop an enemy assault. It is not just about budgets; it is about people realizing they must defend their homes.”
He further warned of the growing military threat posed by Russia, pointing out that “North Korean troops are learning how to fight a modern war. What about your troops? Are they ready?”
Zelensky also condemned Russia for attacking the Chornobyl nuclear reactor and accused Putin of ramping up military preparations, saying, “Russia is not preparing for dialogue. It continues opening new army recruitment centers. Putin can afford it—oil prices are still high enough to sustain his war efforts.”
He revealed intelligence indicating that Russian troops would be sent to Belarus this summer, cautioning, “Is this force meant to attack Ukraine? Maybe. Or maybe it is meant for you.”
Scholz addressed Germany’s military preparedness, acknowledging that the special €100 billion budget to finance the German military was only a “first step” and that significantly larger sums would be necessary. He called for an immediate reform of the German constitution after the upcoming election to allow for increased defense spending and proposed new EU-wide military spending rules.
Scholz directly addressed Vance, thanking him for visiting Dachau and for his remarks on preventing future atrocities. However, he strongly criticized the far-right AfD party for its stance on Germany’s Nazi past, declaring, “We won’t accept it when outsiders intervene in our elections on behalf of this party.” He emphasized, “We decide for ourselves what happens in our democracy.”
German media outlets reacted strongly to Vance’s speech. The left-leaning Der Spiegel called it “historic,” warning that “Europe must now realize it is alone.” The conservative Frankfurter Allgemeine described it as a “cold shower” for the audience in Munich. Die Welt, another major conservative newspaper, republished the full speech at the top of its website on Saturday.
Friedrich Merz, leader of the CDU and a leading candidate to become Germany’s next chancellor, accused Vance of “interfering” in European affairs. “It’s almost an interventionist approach towards Europeans, especially us Germans,” Merz told RTL. “We have a different perspective.” He confirmed that he made this clear in a conversation with Vance on Friday afternoon.
Scholz reiterated his opposition to Vance’s statements, rejecting his call for right-wing nationalist parties to be included in European politics. Posting on X, Scholz wrote, “From our experience with National Socialism, Germany’s democratic parties share a common consensus: we must uphold a firewall against extreme right-wing parties.”
Vance’s speech sent shockwaves through Europe’s leadership. At the Munich Security Conference, he accused European leaders of allowing their “fundamental values” to erode and claimed that “opening the floodgates to millions of unvetted immigrants” posed a bigger threat to the continent than Vladimir Putin.
Downing Street declined to comment on Vance’s criticism of the UK, but a government source told The Telegraph, “It is a simplistic take on a complex set of problems. We are not overjoyed to hear it.”
Vance’s speech came at a time of diplomatic turmoil following Trump’s decision to enter direct talks with Putin to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine.
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