US Vice President JD Vance stunned delegates at the Security Conference in Munich on Friday by attacking Washington’s allies instead of discussing Ukraine. Leaders gathered to debate ending the war without concessions to Russia, but Vance’s speech at the Munich Security Conference ignored the topic, focusing on misinformation.
His harsh criticism of European governments’ policies on migration and censorship left the audience silent, and even his jokes fell flat. The 20-minute speech received a poor reception from European leaders who expected stronger commitments to Ukraine’s defense and NATO unity.
A US commentator noted that the speech was likely aimed at American voters rather than foreign policymakers. Despite the criticism, Vance later met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who tried to sound optimistic about future US-Ukraine cooperation.
Zelensky described their conversation as productive, emphasizing Kyiv’s need for concrete security guarantees to counter Russian aggression. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump Further complicated Ukraine’s position by dismissing the idea of restoring its pre-2014 borders.
His defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, publicly stated that regaining lost territory was unrealistic, effectively undermining Ukraine’s negotiating stance. The Biden administration had previously promised unwavering support, but Trump’s statements signaled a significant shift in US policy toward the conflict.
Adding to European concerns, Trump recently ended the West’s diplomatic freeze with Russia by speaking with Vladimir Putin for 90 minutes. The unexpected conversation alarmed European leaders, who worried that Trump’s pursuit of a peace deal could hand Moscow a strategic victory. Many fear that if Putin emerges stronger from negotiations, he may continue expanding Russia’s territorial ambitions.
Vance’s speech at the Security Conference highlighted the widening rift between the US and its allies over Ukraine. European leaders now brace for a debate on Saturday, fearing that Trump’s diplomatic maneuvers will favor Putin’s long-term plans.
