The Russian army is responsible for serious human rights violations in Ukraine, including murders, rapes and the kidnapping of Ukrainian children to Russia. “This is barbaric and inhumane,” Harris said in her speech shortly after noon on Saturday.
She stressed that the US will work to ensure that Russian perpetrators of war crimes in Ukraine are held accountable. “Russia has committed crimes against humanity.”
Harris also warned China not to militarily help Russia. With that, the People’s Republic would only support the aggression. Any moves by China in this direction would “reward aggression, continue killing and further undermine a rules-based order,” she told the MSC on Saturday. Relations between Moscow and Beijing have strengthened since the Russian attack. If Russia were to succeed in its war in Ukraine, other authoritarian countries around the world might feel emboldened, Harris added.
Von der Leyen urges support for Kiev
In her speech on Saturday, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen advocated purchase guarantees for the armaments industry in order to supply Ukraine with weapons and ammunition better and faster. “We must now do what we did during the pandemic,” she said, referring to contracts with pharmaceutical companies to speed up the production of CoV vaccines. Purchase guarantees could now give the defense industry the opportunity to invest more quickly in production lines and increase supply volumes.
French appeal for EU rearmament
Earlier on Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron had offered EU partners talks on nuclear deterrence in the EU. This could be about the European dimension of France’s nuclear deterrence, the head of state explained at the security conference. The current Russian aggression against Ukraine is a reminder of the important role nuclear weapons have and must continue to have in the Union.
Macron recalled that he had already made the offer in early 2020. At the time, however, European partners like Germany reacted cautiously. Since Great Britain left on January 31, 2020, France has been the only remaining nuclear power in the EU. Macron has long been demanding that Europe should make itself more independent of the superpower USA.
Scholz again campaigned for tank deliveries
Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz had already emphasized in his speech in Munich on Friday that he was “intensively” promoting “that everyone who can supply such battle tanks really do so”. At the end of January, Germany had set itself the goal of providing Ukraine with up to 31 main battle tanks. 14 of them are said to come from Bundeswehr stocks, for the remaining tanks Berlin is waiting for commitments from allies.
Scholz again emphasized that every new step in weapon aid must be agreed with the partners. He is happy and grateful that US President Joe Biden and many other allies see it the same way. The German chancellor defended the tank supplies to Ukraine against concerns from his own country.
It was “not our arms deliveries” that were prolonging the war. The sooner Russian President Vladimir Putin realizes “that he will not achieve his imperialist goal, the greater the chance that the war will end soon and that Russian troops will withdraw,” said Scholz.
“Goliath has already started losing”
Previously, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his video address that he expected the war to end in 2023: “Goliath has already started to lose. Goliath will definitely fall this year,” said the President. He compared his country to the biblical David who had to defend himself against a Russian Goliath. There is “no alternative to our victory,” said Zelensky, who urged the West to speed up the delivery of arms and support to his country.
Stoltenberg believes Ukraine’s victory is possible
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on the sidelines of the conference that he still thinks a victory for Ukraine is possible. “Yes, that is why we support them. The war may end at the negotiating table, but we know that what happens at the negotiating table is entirely dependent on strength on the battlefield. He, too, urged the countries of the western alliance to make further commitments for main battle tank deliveries.
Leading politicians from Europe and the USA called for criminal consequences for President Putin. Putin must be held accountable for the crime of aggression, “otherwise history will repeat itself over and over again,” demanded Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. Republican US Senator Lindsey Graham emphasized: “If Putin gets away with it, then the same thing will happen again in the future.”
Schallenberg: “We achieve an unbelievable amount”
Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg and Europe Minister Karoline Edtstadler (both ÖVP) do not see Austria under pressure with its adherence to military neutrality in the Ukraine war. “I’ve never received any requests that we should deliver weapons,” said Schallenberg on the sidelines of the security conference. “It is recognized that we are doing an incredible amount in other areas,” Edtstadler added, referring to humanitarian aid.
In this regard, the Minister for Europe reported on her recent visit to Kiev, during which a fire brigade was deployed after a Russian rocket attack. “The firefighter wore protective equipment from Graz.” Schallenberg pointed out that Austria, measured by its economic output, was the number one in terms of humanitarian aid for Ukraine. In the conflict, Austria was also “sharp on the edge of what is possible under neutrality law”.
Russia no longer invited after cancellation
More than 150 high-ranking government representatives are taking part in this year’s meeting in Munich. Russian government officials are absent for the second year in a row. After the Kremlin declined all invitations to the meeting last year, shortly before Russia invaded Ukraine, this time Moscow did not receive an invitation.
The Munich Security Conference has been taking place since 1963. In addition to the public discussions and speeches, she is known not least for her “backroom meetings” in the Bayerischer Hof, where politicians can exchange ideas in unofficial talks.
