At the end of the Munich Security Conference, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called for Europe to be more closely involved in peace efforts for Ukraine. She made it clear that the negotiations to end the war between Russia and Ukraine must be much more about demanding concessions from Russia.
“If we want sustainable peace, then we also need concessions from the Russian side,” she said in Munich. Europe has many opportunities to have a say in this, says Kallas. Lifting sanctions against Russia and dealing with frozen Russian assets could be European decisions.
Since Friday, heads of state and government, ministers and representatives of international organizations, together with military officials and scientists, had discussed the correct response to international crises and destabilization. It was about the war in Ukraine, but above all about Europe’s transatlantic relationship with the USA.
The current MSC boss Wolfgang Ischinger ended the conference on Sunday. In his closing speech, he said the transatlantic alliance could do more to put pressure on Russia and increase the costs of the war for Russia.
Stoltenberg warns of double standards in NATO
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For Jens Stoltenberg, who is expected to be the future head of the security conference, NATO must also position itself clearly with regard to its credibility and avoid “double standards”. The member states must take a clear position as soon as international law is violated, “regardless of where and by whom,” said the acting Norwegian Finance Minister and former NATO Secretary General. One of the challenges is the conflict in the Middle East compared to Ukraine. “There are huge differences, but it’s about sovereignty and respect for international law.”
Clinton criticizes coercion into “surrender agreements”
Previously, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called President Donald Trump’s stance on Ukraine “disgraceful.” “I think the attempt to force Ukraine into a surrender agreement with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is shameful,” said the 78-year-old. Either Trump doesn’t understand the suffering of the Ukrainians or he doesn’t care, said the former US Democratic presidential candidate. The Russian war of aggression against the neighboring country began almost four years ago on Putin’s orders.
AfD delegation travels to Washington at the beginning of March
AfD member of the Bundestag Anna Rathert said she met employees of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. The lawyer told the German Press Agency that this happened “in passing.” “They were very constructive discussions, very pleasant, very positive discussions.” However, she had no contact with Rubio himself or with representatives of the Republican Party from the US congressional delegation.
Rathert announced that an AfD delegation would travel to Washington in early March for an international congress of right-wing parliamentarians entitled “The Alliance of Sovereign Nations.”
Trump is always an issue
Rubio’s speech on Saturday was greeted with relief by many participants at the security conference. It was authoritative in tone, but in substance Rubio insisted on Trump’s course. “Rubio’s tone was friendlier, but he was tough on Trump’s point of view. And for me it was another sign that we as Europeans have to become stronger and more independent,” said Green Party leader Franziska Brantner to the dpa in Munich.
There were also warm words for the Europeans from the US side elsewhere: Republican US Senator and Trump confidant Lindsey Graham was very positive overall about his talks with Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the security conference. “I was impressed by both of them. They seem to have figured out Trump pretty well.”
The 70-year-old Senator Graham is one of the most experienced foreign policy experts in the USA, has a very good relationship with Trump and, according to his own statements, exchanged ideas with him during the security conference.
date: 2026-02-15 15:27:00