Ukrainian President Voldy Milzelensky It appears that they are being called on to create a “European Army” to protect Russia, and that the United States may no longer come to help the continent.
Speaking on the second day of the Munich Security Conference, Zelensky said it was based on the three-year battle in Ukraine Against the invading Russian troops It has proven that there exists a foundation for the creation of European military, which has long been debated among leaders of several continents.
“I really believe the time has come,” he said. “We must create a European army.”
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It is unclear whether this idea will catch up with European leaders. Zelenskyy wants Greater military and economic support The European Union repeatedly warned that other parts of Europe could be vulnerable to Russian expansionist ambitions.
Zelensky states, “A three-year full-scale war proves that we already have the foundation of unified Europe’s military power. Europe.”
In his speech, Zelenskyy also hinted at a phone conversation between them. President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin This week, after Trump said he and Putin would meet soon. Negotiate a peace agreement Over Ukraine. This was a break with the Biden administration’s more intense boundary against Moscow against Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
“Ukraine will never accept any deals made behind our backs without our involvement, and the same rules should apply to everything in Europe,” Zelensky said. “A few days ago, President Trump told me about his conversation with Putin. He never mentioned America at the table that he needed Europe.
“It ended in the past when America supported Europe because it always had it.”
Zelenskyy I met with Vice President JD Vance. On Friday we will discuss the Trump administration’s efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Vance said the US wanted “durable” peace, but Zelensky expressed his desire for broader discussion to prepare for the purpose of the conflict.
“We want the killing to be stopped, but we want to achieve durable and lasting peace,” Vance said. “It’s not a peace that Eastern Europe will fall into conflict in a few years.”
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In a speech at Friday’s meeting, Vance warned that Europe needs to “step up on a massive scale” in defense, reiterating that Trump wants to see. NATO’s European allies contribute At least 5% of gross domestic product increased security spending.
“The Trump administration is very interested in European security and believes it can reach a reasonable settlement between Russia and Ukraine, but in a great way that Europe will provide it in the coming years. I believe it’s important to step up, Vance said.
Vance spoke to Europeans at the conference, saying, “The threat I most concerned about with Europe is not Russia, not China.”
“What I’m worried about is the threat from within, the European setback from some of its most fundamental values, the values shared with the United States,” the Vice President said.
European leaders are trying to understand Washington’s tough new approach to issues such as democracy and the future of Ukraine. The Trump administration continues to take over the Transatlantic Treaty, which has been around since the post-World War II.
German Prime Minister Olaf Scholz acknowledged the need for assistance to Ukraine, but he recognized that Germany, in particular, has budgetary rules that limit the extent to which the government can use it.
“It is absolutely impossible to raise more than 2% more funding without changing the debt regulations we have,” Scholz said. But he believes that the Germans are ready to increase their spending and that “there are broad support for all those who say we should do more.” However, he explained that the rules need to be changed for this.
Matthias Schrader / AP
He said he was “a little tired” that some people in Germany and elsewhere had suggested that raising such spending was “what we can do.”
“If we’re not serious, that won’t happen. Spending more on defense is something we have to be honest with those who tell them we have to increase the debt we have.” Scholz said. “We have the power, we have the strength and we have the financial ability to do what we need.”
Olivia Rinaldi contributed to this report.
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