The president of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelenski, sat down with United States vice president, JD Vance, during the Munich Security Conference, with the goal of forging a unified strategy against the ongoing conflict with Russia. So, what did they discuss? Well, for starters, Zelenski stressed the importance of securing support from both the US and the European Union before entering into any talks with Vladimir Putin – and, importantly, having a clear roadmap in place.
It’s worth noting that Vance seemed pretty upbeat about the meeting, describing it as a positive step forward in cooperation between the two countries. Although they didn’t get into specifics, the possibility of new economic and military support measures was definitely on the table. However, Vance also sounded a cautionary note, emphasizing that Europe needs to boost its investment in defense. And, in a slightly ominous tone, he hinted that the Trump administration might be looking to shift its geopolitical priorities towards the Indo-Pacific region – which, understandably, could have a significant impact on the level of assistance provided to Ukraine going forward.
Meanwhile, there’s a sense of unease in Kyiv and other European capitals about Donald Trump’s announcement regarding direct negotiations with Putin. The worry is that any agreements reached might not involve Ukraine or the EU – which, let’s be honest, is a pretty big concern. Zelenski’s been clear that any negotiations need to be based on international consensus, and that, ultimately, it’s up to the Ukrainian people to decide on their own sovereignty and territory.