Zelenskyy demands ‘real security guarantees’ before peace talks; Vance accused of ‘trying to pick a fight’ with EU – as it happened

 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the need for "real security guarantees" and a joint US-Ukrainian peace plan before engaging in any negotiations to end the war with Russia. During a meeting with US Vice President JD Vance on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for US support but stressed the importance of continued dialogue and preparation to counter Russian President Vladimir Putin. "We want peace very much, but we need real security guarantees," he stated.

Vance, however, used the platform to launch a sharp critique of European leadership, accusing them of suppressing free speech, failing to address illegal migration, and ignoring populist concerns. 

His remarks drew criticism from European officials. EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas described Vance's speech as an attempt to "pick a fight" with Europe, while German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius called his intervention "unacceptable." Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre lamented Vance's failure to address pressing security issues, calling it a "missed opportunity."

Despite the tensions, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy noted that he and Vance agreed on the necessity of including Zelenskyy in any peace talks with Russia. Lammy expressed encouragement following his discussions with Vance about Ukraine.

Meanwhile, reports suggest the Kremlin is assembling a high-level negotiating team, including close Putin adviser Kirill Dmitriev, to engage in direct talks with the US. The team's focus is expected to be on reducing sanctions. However, Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, warned against negotiating with Putin, stating that any agreement would be futile. "If he remains in power, he will break the agreement. If he loses power, the agreement will become meaningless," she said during the Munich Security Conference.

In a concerning development, Zelenskyy reported that a Russian drone carrying a high-explosive warhead struck the protective containment shell of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant just hours before the conference began. This attack underscored the ongoing volatility of the conflict.

Adding to the controversy, Vance reportedly met with Alice Weidel, leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, outside the conference venue. The AfD had been excluded from the event, and Vance's apparent support for the party, including his call to end political "firewalls" against it, drew criticism. A German government spokesperson cautioned against foreign interference in the upcoming election, stating, "It is not right for foreigners to intervene so intensively in an election campaign."

Navalnaya reiterated her skepticism about negotiating with Putin during her speech, emphasizing his history of deceit and betrayal. "Even if you decided to negotiate with Putin, just remember he will lie," she warned. Her remarks came just days before the first anniversary of her husband's death in a Russian prison.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy also met with Navalnaya in Munich, reaffirming his commitment to supporting opposition efforts against Putin. "We will continue to do all we can to constrain the Kremlin," Lammy wrote, highlighting new sanctions targeting Putin's inner circle.