On 19 February 2022, a year ago this weekend, a kempt if callow Volodymyr Zelenskiy took to the stage at the Munich Security Conference wearing suit and tie to confront the west with the reality of the imminent return of war to Europe and a possible full-scale Russian invasion of his country.
He spoke with the bluntness for which in the past year he has become known, addressing past western appeasement of Russia and saying indifference made a country an accomplice in Russia’s crimes. He also asked for security guarantees to avoid his country being cast as a permanent buffer zone between Europe and Russia, saying clear and honest answers were needed in response to Ukraine’s request for membership of Nato and the European Union.
