Vance Attack on Europe Ignores Ukraine & Defence Agenda
Munich Security Conference Overshadowed by Vance’s Speech
The Munich Security Conference (MSC) 2025 was expected to focus on two critical issues:
🔹 Ending the war in Ukraine without conceding to Russia
🔹 Strengthening Europe’s defense spending
However, US Vice President JD Vance delivered a speech that ignored both topics and instead criticized Washington’s allies—including Britain—for their handling of free speech, migration, and misinformation.
A Speech Met with Silence
Vance’s 20-minute address on Friday left delegates stunned and silent.
Even his attempted joke—“If American democracy can survive 10 years of [climate activist] Greta Thunberg scolding, you guys can survive a few months of Elon Musk”—fell flat with no reaction from the audience.
Instead of addressing the Ukraine crisis or Europe’s military readiness, Vance accused European governments of:
❌ Ignoring voter concerns on migration
❌ Retreating from democratic values
❌ Suppressing free speech
His remarks were widely criticized as being out of touch with the conference’s main agenda.
Who Was Vance Speaking To?
According to a US political analyst, Vance’s speech was aimed not at European leaders, but at a domestic American audience.
One commentator described it as:
🗨 “That was all for US domestic consumption.”
Vance Meets Zelensky Amid US Policy Shift on Ukraine
Despite his speech, Vance later met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
📌 Zelensky described the meeting as “good” but stressed the need for stronger US-Ukraine collaboration.
📌 He reiterated Ukraine’s desire for peace but emphasized the need for real security guarantees.
Meanwhile, President Trump’s stance on Ukraine continues to shift.
🚨 Trump’s Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently stated that restoring Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is “not realistic.”
🚨 The US has ruled out supporting Ukraine’s NATO bid and will not send troops to protect Ukraine from future Russian attacks.
These statements weaken Kyiv’s negotiating position and signal a potential US-Russia détente.
Trump’s Call with Putin Shocks Europe
Before the Munich Conference, European leaders were stunned by reports that Trump held a 90-minute phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
🔴 This broke the West’s diplomatic freeze on Putin, which had been in place since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
🔴 Many fear that Trump’s rush for a peace deal could result in major concessions to Moscow.
Europe Braces for Ukraine Debate
On Saturday, the MSC will hold a high-profile debate on Ukraine’s future.
However, there is growing concern that:
⚠ Trump’s diplomatic moves could allow Putin to claim victory.
⚠ Russia may emerge stronger, emboldened to seize more European territory.
European leaders now face difficult choices as they navigate a shifting US policy on Ukraine.
External Source:BBC Coverage
Internal Source:Vance attack on Europe
