Liberal leaders, ministers and other key policymakers descended on Munich over the weekend to discuss the main challenges facing the world, with Ukraine and the possible launch of peace negotiations with Russia topping the agenda.
The 61st Munich Security Conference (MSC), the world's leading forum for debating the most pressing challenges to international security, was held from 14-16 February.
Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, received the MSC’s yearly Ewald von Kleist award, presented to outstanding contributors to international understanding and conflict resolution.
Estonia’s former Prime Minister was lauded for her essential leadership in rallying support for Ukraine after Russia's full-scale invasion, and recognised as a resilient and widely respected leader and staunch defender of the rule of law.
“I'm truly honoured to receive this award, but I feel that I don't deserve it because the war is still going on. Ukrainians are still dying, Putin is still bombing Ukraine. Why is it taking so much time to understand that this war is not just about Ukraine's sovereignty? It is about sovereignty of ours. Are we honestly doing enough to protect ourselves? If we were, I am convinced that the war would be over by now, and it would have been won by Ukraine already. The killing can stop anytime, Russia just needs to stop bombing Ukraine. In this fight for Europe's future, for the very concept of freedom, for global security, Ukraine must prevail or we will all lose,” said Kallas.
Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte underlined that any peace for Ukraine must be durable and include security guarantees, and urged EU leaders to propose concrete ways in which they could help make this a reality.
“There's a general agreement that we have to make sure that Ukraine are in the best possible position to participate in peace talks, and that means ongoing military support in terms of weapon deliveries and training. But also there is a large scale agreement that whenever a deal is done, that deal is durable, is lasting; that Putin will never again try to catch a square mile of Ukraine,” said Rutte.
In a debate about accelerating the Balkan countries’ EU accession talks, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos argued that enlargement is about the unification of the continent and returning to the EU’s roots.
“The EU has been established to preserve peace, freedom, security, prosperity. Now we go back to security and to peace: this is the most decisive element but it is also the strength of the EU. Enlargement can be the most important political element of the security guarantees, and there is a reason why the countries would love to join the EU and not the USA,” said Commissioner Kos.
Finally, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that the steadfast EU support should not wane in view of the new US administration.
“I am grateful for the new aid packages for Ukraine being prepared in Europe right now at a time when it is crucial to show Putin that Europe has not lost faith in Ukraine or in the prospect of a lasting peace. From the UK to Poland, from Finland to Spain: across Europe, there is a clear understanding that we must only grow stronger. The Armed Forces of Europe are needed. We must be a reliable defender of our own future in Europe, so that on the other side of the Atlantic, the interest in a strong alliance with Europe remains clear,” said President Zelenskyy.