Vance, Zelenskyy Discuss Ukraine War at Munich Security Conference Amid Mixed Signals on U.S. Policy
Vice President JD Vance and Ukraine's President Zelenskyy met to discuss ending the Russia-Ukraine war amidst U.S. diplomatic tensions and European defense concerns.
Vance pushed back against his own government, accusing it of pressuring private companies to silence those who dared to voice what was clearly the truth.
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But what’s more interesting is what the episode reveals about Trump, his long-standing complaints about the politicization of the Justice Department, and his oft-repeated promise to clean up corruption in the federal government.
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A negotiated settlement to end the war in Ukraine was a central focus of Vance's discussions with world leaders at the conference this week, sources told CBS News.
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But the message seems clear.
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Vice President Vance’s speech to the conference has ruffled quite a few feathers in Europe.
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Taken together, the moves confirmed predictions that Trump would take a different approach to Ukraine than former President Joe Biden, who steadfastly supported Kyiv in its war against Russia, and would distance the U.S. from its strong, decades-long ties with NATO, its alliance with dozens of European states.
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The retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values, values shared with the United States of America.
Trump gives thumbs-up to J.D. Vance’s remarks scolding European leaders
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What I worry about is the threat from within the retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values, values shared with the United States of America.
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This is a terrorist threat to the entire world.
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There seems to be a willingness to engage with NATO on all of us increasing our investment in collective security and to engage with Ukraine in a way that sees value in the fight for freedom in Ukraine.
Widespread concern among U.S. allies in Munich about Ukraine policy, foreign aid
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The move, though not directly related to Russia, is likely to be seen as a key foundation for any lasting peace in the region, as it will anchor U.S. business interests within Ukraine and continue the flow of American-made weapons to Kyiv regardless of whether the United States ever agrees to offer a troop presence there.
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U.S. military strength is the key to achieving lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine.
Zelenskyy, Vance talk peace for Ukraine and Russia
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Vance had clearly long prepared this tirade as a starting gun for the second Trump administration’s bid to refuel populism across Europe.
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For all its criticisms of Democrats' and neoconservatives' foreign adventurism, the 'America First' movement turns out to have plenty of crusades it wants to pursue abroad.
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There is also little chance that the interviewer misunderstood Vance's point.
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But there were more widespread concerns among other leaders at the summit.
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The administration has offered mixed messages on its position toward negotiations.
Vance, Zelenskyy meet on ending Russia-Ukraine war as administration sends mixed messages
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Vance's address otherwise focused on culture-war issues and key themes of Trump's campaign for the US presidency - a departure from the usual security and defence discussions at the annual conference.
JD Vance attacks Europe over free speech and migration
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Vance appeared to back the AfD when he called for an end of political “firewalls,” a pointed reference to a consensus among German parties not to work with the AfD.
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Vance’s speech, Rozen continued, “was not about Europe doing more to protect European security.
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Beyond a laundry list of failings by European governments to respect freedom for their own people, Vance diagnosed a continent lost for its own failure to understand what it stands for any why, and even worse one that scorns the views of its own people.
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The vice president blamed the “conscious decisions” made by political leaders throughout Europe for the surge in mass migration that has spread across the continent since the beginning of the 2020s.
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Europe has been caught in a frenzy of warmongering, essentially.
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Of all the pressing issues faced by the nations represented in Munich, none was more urgent than mass migration.
JD Vance criticizes European democracy, says greatest threat is 'from within'
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Zelenskiy is coming under desperate pressure from the Trump White House this week after senior US officials said it’s not realistic to aspire to regaining parts of Ukraine captured by the Kremlin.
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Vance contended in his speech that Europe's real problem is mass migration, but mainstream parties still refuse to work with anti-immigrant parties.
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US Vice President JD Vance meets German far-right leader as he criticizes 'firewalls' in Europe
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The threat that I worry the most about vis-à-vis Europe is not Russia, it’s not China, it’s not any other external actor.
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The track Trump is taking also has rocked Europe, much as his dismissive comments about France and Germany did during his first term.
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The fact that the WSJ twisted my words in the way they did for this story is absurd, but not surprising considering they have spent years pushing for more American sons and daughters in uniform to be unnecessarily deployed overseas.
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With the Trump administration taking its wrecking ball to the constitutional order here in America, it’s easy to miss the damage being done not only in Europe but elsewhere.
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Much of what NATO does for Ukraine, and indeed for global security, is misunderstood.
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The meeting occurred the same day that Vance gave his first major speech on the international stage, where he criticized European leaders for what he considers their stifling opposing viewpoints, and of retreating from “fundamental values.”
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Summary
As the Munich Security Conference progresses, Vice President JD Vance has advocated for increased NATO defense spending and met with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to explore ways to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Vance emphasized the necessity of achieving a durable peace. Concurrently, he faced criticism over remarks suggesting European democracies are faltering, which drew ire from leaders like Germany's Defense Minister. His meetings also included the far-right German party leader, highlighting concerns about democracy in Europe. Analysts express worry about U.S. mixed messages regarding support for Ukraine amidst ongoing peace negotiations spearheaded by Trump.
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