Munich Security Conference: Ukraine war takes centre stage
The war in Ukraine will take centre stage as senior politicians and military leaders from around the world meet in Germany for this year’s Munich Security Conference (MSC).
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris are among the top officials from around the world that are attending the meeting.
Last year’s gathering took place days before the Russian war in Ukraine began. As Russian troops massed on Ukraine’s borders, Western leaders in Munich urged President Vladimir Putin not to invade and warned of dire consequences if he did.
This year, leaders will grapple with the consequences of Putin’s decision to ignore their pleas and unleash the most devastating war in Europe since World War Two that has killed countless thousands and forced millions to flee.
Russian leaders will be notable for their absence at the conference, which runs until Sunday, but senior Ukrainian officials are expected to address it.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address his priority was to hold off Russian attacks and get ready for an eventual Ukrainian counter-offensive.
“Holding the situation at the front and preparing for any enemy steps of escalation – that is the priority for the near future,” he said.
Also Read: Ukraine war: Zelenskiy urges faster military aid
Bolstered by tens of thousands of reservists, Russia has intensified ground attacks across southern and eastern Ukraine, and, as the first anniversary of its Feb. 24 invasion nears, a major new Russian offensive appears to be taking shape.
Russia rained missiles across Ukraine on Thursday and struck its largest oil refinery. Of at least 36 missiles that Russia fired about 16 were shot down, the air force said a lower rate than normal.
In Munich, the war will reignite long-running debates on questions such as how much Europe should build up its own military capacity, and how much it should rely on the United States for its security amid concerns Ukraine’s crisis could spread.
Meanwhile, Belarus, which allowed Russia to use its territory to send troops into Ukraine at the beginning of the war, said it would only fight alongside its ally if it was attacked.
Zainab Sa’id
