Munich (Germany) (EFE).- The Ukrainian president, Volodímir Zelenski, stressed today that there is no “alternative” to Russia’s defeat in the war in Ukraine, in his speech at the Security Conference that began today in Munich (south from Germany).
There are also no alternatives to Ukraine’s accession to the European Union (EU) and, ultimately, to NATO, said Zelenski, who spoke by videoconference.
The Ukrainian leader reasoned that it is not possible to make “compromises” with the liberation of the territories occupied by Russia, since Russian weapons are also “aimed at Europe” and the freedom of the continent and on a global scale cannot be compromised.
Zelensky stated that victory against Russia on the battlefield is within reach and listed all the achievements since the Russian invasion began on February 24.
However, based on the simile of David against Goliath, he assured that for this it is essential that Moscow tries to buy time with which to “destroy more lives.”
“Our life depends on it,” said the Ukrainian leader, who indicated that the delays allow the Kremlin to destabilize the geopolitical situation on a global scale by buying weapons from Iran and causing escalations in countries such as Mali or the Central African Republic.
“The Russian Goliath will fall this year,” however, Zelensky predicted, expressing the hope that next year it will be possible to hold “the first Security Conference after the war” and with a “free Ukraine.”
“We can defeat Putin, not just Putin but all the Putins in the world,” he said, referring to the Russian president.
The Munich Security Conference (MSC) opens this Friday in this southern German city with Ukraine as the central axis of interventions and debates by senior government officials and heads of state or government.
Scholz: “a long war”
Olaf Scholz told the Munich Security Conference that he believes that in Ukraine “a long war awaits us” and highlighted the decision to continue supporting those who oppose the Russian invasion for as long as necessary.
Scholz made the remarks in a dialogue following a speech to the conference plenary, explaining that since the war will last for some time, it is necessary to coordinate support for Ukraine among the allies while avoiding a direct confrontation between Russia and NATO.
Macron calls for a Ukrainian “counteroffensive” that forces Russia to talk
Macron advocated at the Munich Security Conference for “intensifying support” for Ukraine until it can “launch a counteroffensive” that forces Russia to talk under “credible” and “chosen” conditions by Kiev.
He also called for reforming the international order -including the UN Security Council-, for increasing European investment in defense, in alliance with NATO but also at a continental level, beyond the limits of the European Union.
Award for Sweden and Finland
The MSC will reward Sweden and Finland for their “historic” decision to apply for NATO membership and as a “boost” for their integration process, over Turkey’s objections. The Kleist Prize will honor both Nordic countries, which, as a result of the aggression against Ukraine, broke with decades of military neutrality to request entry into the Atlantic alliance.
For the second time in a row, the MSC will not have representatives from the Russian government. Last year there was an invitation for the Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, who chose not to attend, which at the time was interpreted as a sign that the decision to launch the invasion of Ukraine had already been taken.
The exclusions are a clear symptom of the new winds blowing in Munich as a result of the war. Traditionally, the MSC had sought to offer, outside of public events, a platform for informal meetings where possible diplomatic solutions to certain crises could be explored.
