Closing summary
in Munich
… and on that note, it’s a wrap for today!
The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has sought to reassure European leaders that ending the transatlantic era is “not out goal nor our wish,” but urged them to leave behind the postwar “delusions” on trade (9:07), deindustrialisation, green policies and mass migration (9:10, 9:16).
Rubio insisted that “Americans may sometimes come off as a little direct and urgent in our counsel” as they “care deeply about Europe” (9:13), as he says the US “do not want our allies to be weak, because that makes us weaker” (9:20).
He said the US was intent on building a new world order, adding “while we are prepared, if necessary, to do this alone, it is our preference and it is our hope to do this together with you, our friends here in Europe”.
Earlier today,
Ukraine wants security guarantees for a minimum of 20 years from the US before it can sign a peace deal with dignity, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said ahead of talks next week with Russia and the US.
In an earlier speech, he said that “none of our people chose to be heroes” (12:28) as he described the everyday life under Russian attacks (12:11), urged Europe to “stand up to Russia” (12:36) and warned against any half-baked deal with Russia saying it would be an “illusion” to think it would stop Putin from attacking again in the future (12:40).
Later in the evening, Zelenskyy held bilateral talks with US secretary of state Marco Rubio (20:52) and spoke on the phone with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner (21:15).
Meanwhile,
The UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, said there was an urgent need for a closer UK defence relationship with Europe (10:42, 10:56), so that the UK would be at the centre of a stronger European defence setup and economic revival (10:46), insisting “we are not the Britain of the Brexit years any more” (10:33).
Starmer said “the new normal” required Europe to “take primary responsibility for its own defence” (10:37), as “the solidity of peace” was “softening” amid “warning signs” from Russia (10:31).
Separately,
The Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, condemned “totally unacceptable” pressure on Greenland amid continuing US interest in taking over the semi-autonomous territory (19:07).
The Greenlandic prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said it was “outrageous” to see the Greenlanders threatened by a Nato ally (19:12), as he warned about setting a broader precedent in international relations.
Their comments came a day after they held a brief meeting with the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, on the sidelines of the conference.
Finally,
Late Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny was poisoned by Russia with a deadly toxic found in the skin of Ecuador dart frogs, “highly likely” leading to his death, the UK Foreign Office said (14:06).
The disclosure came at the same conference at which the news of his passing broke two years ago (14:28).
And the quote of the day award today goes to Poland’s Radosław Sikorski for his answer on a question on how Poland and Nato would respond to a Russian attack on its territory (17:07).
And that’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, for today.
If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at [email protected].
I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.
