President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to meet US Vice President JD Vance in Germany this Friday, where he will caution against trusting Russia's Vladimir Putin as concerns rise in Kyiv and among European allies that the war in Ukraine could be decided without their involvement.
The Munich Security Conference, which begins shortly after pivotal talks between US President Donald Trump and Putin, has stirred unease in Ukraine and among NATO members, almost three years after Russia's full-scale invasion. Trump revealed that he had agreed with Putin to initiate peace talks and exchange friendly visits— a significant shift from the previous international isolation of the Russian president.
As senior Trump officials gathered for discussions in Europe on Thursday, Zelensky warned global leaders not to trust Putin's intentions for peace, stressing that the United States must formulate a plan to stop Putin before any negotiations begin.
Ukraine's European allies worry that Trump may pressure Ukraine into a unfavorable peace agreement, leaving them to confront a stronger Putin while bearing the primary burden of post-war security.
Among the European leaders, diplomats, and military officials in Munich, many express deep concern over the growing divide between transatlantic partners and the potential destabilization of the post-World War II international system.
The new US administration indicated that Ukraine might have to cede territory to Russia and ruled out NATO membership for Kyiv as "impractical."
European allies were taken aback when they learned that securing Ukraine's future would largely fall to them, in line with Trump's "America First" approach, which also prioritizes China as the main strategic adversary.
Timothy Garton Ash, an Oxford University professor of European studies, wrote that America's message to Europe was clear: "It’s your problem. We will help broker a deal with Russia, but enforcing it is up to you."
This approach could embolden Putin to test Europe's defenses, leaving Ukraine and Europe vulnerable after any peace agreement reached by Trump.
Meeting NATO allies, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed concerns that Trump's 90-minute phone conversation with Putin on Wednesday undermined Ukraine's efforts.
EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas insisted that "any deal behind our backs will not work," emphasizing that appeasement is doomed to fail.
Despite the possibility of Ukraine's demands being sidelined after years of brutal conflict, Zelensky has responded with measured language, aiming to ensure his country remains a key player in discussions about its future. He expressed disappointment that Trump had contacted Putin first and reiterated his desire to work with the United States on a "plan to stop Putin" before any talks proceed.
Zelensky was expected to meet with Vance, who will attend the Munich conference alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior US officials, and continue his push for more European support to secure a "just peace."
Trump announced that representatives from Moscow, Kyiv, and Washington would meet in Munich on Friday. However, the Ukrainian presidency clarified that it did not anticipate participating in talks with Russian officials, stating that "nothing is on the table" at this point.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz rejected any "dictated peace," while Defence Minister Boris Pistorius criticized Washington for already making "concessions" to Moscow.
The war in Ukraine remains the largest military conflict in Europe since World War II, and recent developments have evoked troubling historical comparisons. Kallas' use of the term "appeasement" carries weight, as Munich was the site of the 1938 agreement where Britain, France, and Italy allowed Nazi Germany to annex Czechoslovakia’s border regions.
In social media posts, Trump has highlighted the "great history of our nations," referring to the United States and Russia, who were allies during World War II.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga expressed concern that Russia aims to revive the post-Yalta mentality, referring to the 1945 conference where the British, Soviet, and US leaders divided the world after World War II.
Security around the Munich conference was heightened after a car-ramming attack a day earlier injured 30 people. An Afghan asylum seeker was arrested at the scene.
BDST: 1019 HRS, FEB 14, 2025
MSK
