German chancellor hits back at US at security conference
German chancellor Olaf Scholz has shot back strongly in defence of his stance against the far-right and said his country will not accept people who “intervene in our democracy,” a day after US vice-president JD Vance scolded European leaders over their approach to democracy, reports the Associated Press (AP).
The German leader spoke with just eight days before crucial elections in Germany, with polls showing the far-right Alternative for Germany party currently in second.
Vance said on Friday at the Munich Security Conference that he fears free speech is “in retreat” across the continent.
“Germany is a very strong democracy, and as a strong democracy, we are absolutely clear that the extreme right should be out of political control and out of political decision making processes, and that there will be no cooperation with them,” Scholz said. “We really reject any idea of cooperation between parties, other parties and this extreme right parties.”
A day earlier, Vance said that many Americans saw in Europe “entrenched interests hiding behind ugly Soviet-era words like misinformation and disinformation, who simply don’t like the idea that somebody with an alternative viewpoint might express a different opinion or, God forbid, vote a different way, or even worse, win an election.”
Scholz, shooting back, said “free speech in Europe means that you are not attacking others in ways that are against legislation and laws we have in our country.” He was alluding to rules in Germany that restrict hate speech, reports the AP.
The comments came as European leaders have been trying to make sense of a tough new line from Washington on issues including democracy and Ukraine’s future, as the Trump administration continues to upend transatlantic conventions that have been in place since after the second world war.
Key events
Here are some images from the Munich Security Conference today:
France’s foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot on Saturday defended European policies after a withering attack by US vice-president JD Vance the day before regarding immigration, populist parties and free speech.
“Freedom of expression is guaranteed in Europe,” Barrot said on X, after Vance alleged it was “in retreat”. “Nobody is obliged to adopt our model, but nobody can impose theirs on us,” the French minister added, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
China believes all stakeholders in the Russia-Ukraine conflict should participate in the peace talks, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said on Friday, underscoring Europe’s role in them after a flurry of US messaging on how to end the war.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Wang said “we hope that all parties and stakeholders directly involved participate in the peace talks in due course”.
“China views all efforts dedicated to peace positively, including any consensus reached by the United States and Russia on peace talks,” China’s foreign ministry readout quoted Wang as saying, reports Reuters.
As the war is taking place on European soil, it is all the more necessary for Europe to play its part for peace, to jointly address the root causes of the crisis, to find a balanced, effective and sustainable security framework, and to achieve long-term peace and stability in Europe.”
Wang also told the European Union that China is ready to step up strategic communication with the bloc, enhance mutual understanding and jointly bring more stability to the world, according to remarks made to the EU policy chief Kaja Kallas.
Meeting on the sidelines of the conference, he emphasised to Kallas China’s position supporting Europe’s role in the peace talks, according to a statement from his ministry.
Europe needs its own plan for security and Ukraine, says Poland’s Tusk
Europe needs its own plan for Ukraine and for its own security or its future will be decided by other powers, Polish prime minister Donald Tusk said on Saturday, according to Reuters.
“Europe urgently needs its own plan of action concerning Ukraine and our security, or else other global players will decide about our future. Not necessarily in line with our own interest,” Tusk wrote on social media platform X.
“This plan must be prepared now. There’s no time to lose.”
‘No decisions’ on Ukraine without Kyiv and Europe, says Zelenskyy
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday insisted that no decisions should be taken on ending Russia’s war without Kyiv and Europe as the United States pushes to open talks with Moscow.
“No decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine, no decisions about Europe without Europe. Europe must have a seat at the table,” Zelenskyy told the Munich Security Conference, reports Agence France-Presse.
Reuters adds that Zelenskyy told leaders at the conference that it would be “dangerous” for US president Donald Trump to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin before meeting him.
Russian troops have taken control of the settlement of Berezivka in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, Russia’s Defence Ministry said on Saturday, according to Reuters.
Reuters could not independently confirm the battlefield report.
On Nato membership, Zelenskyy added that if Ukraine does not achieve Nato membership, then there should be conditions to build “another Nato in Ukraine”. He said that now the most influential Nato member seems to be Vladimir Putin.
The Ukrainian president added: “We cannot agree to a ceasefire without real security guarantees.”
Zelenskyy: Ukraine will never accept ‘deals reached behind our backs’
“We will never accept deals reached behind our backs, without our involvement,” Zelenskyy has told leaders at the Munich Security Conference.
The Ukrainian president said he would not take Nato membership for Ukraine off the table. “We need coordinated diplomacy … end of this war should be our ‘first shared success.”
Zelenskyy has told the Munich Security Conference that weapons should be fully produced in Europe. He adds: “Europe must decide its own future.”
Zelenskyy: the time has come for a European army
Addressing the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the “time has come for a European army to be created”.
Zelenskyy said that North Korean troops fighting Ukraine are learning “modern warfare”.
“Our army alone is not enough, we need your support,” he said.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is now speaking at the Munich Security Conference. He has told the audience that Kyiv has clear intelligence that Russia plans to send troops to Belarus this summer, reports Reuters.
Zelenskyy has urged European leaders: “I urge you to act for your own sake.” He also asked “If Russia launches attack or false-flag operation, are your armies ready?”
