Zelensky says he does not ‘see a ready US plan’ for ending Ukraine war – live updates – BBC.com
Source: BBC News
President Volodymr Zelensky says more work is needed on a plan for ending the war in Ukraine during a meeting with US Vice-President JD Vance
The talks on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, came after Vance criticised European leaders over free speech and democracy, telling world leaders during an address that “there is a new sheriff in town”, referring to US President Donald Trump
It was a very weird speech from a US vice-president, it wasn’t what anyone wanted to talk about, reports the BBC’s Frank Gardner from Munich
Earlier Zelensky said he doesn’t see a “ready US plan” to end the Ukraine war
Trump had said US, Russian and Ukrainian officials would meet in Munich – but Moscow says they are not sending a delegation to the summit
It’s almost three years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine – read our summary of the latest on the ground
Watch: Vance and Zelensky meet to discuss ‘durable, lasting’ peace
Edited by Sam Hancock, with Frank Gardner reporting from Munich
The first day of the Munich Security Conference was dominated by
talks on the future of the war in Ukraine.
World leaders and representatives, including Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelensky and US Vice-President JD Vance, gathered just days after President
Trump announced that he had a “lengthy and highly productive” phone
call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
One moment which dominated the day was Vanceâs address to
the conference, during which he criticised European leaders over free speech
and democracy, and raised concerns over “the threat from within”
Europe.
The BBC’s Frank Gardner, who was in the room, described it as “very odd” – and noted how a US commentator had told him the speech “was all for US domestic consumption”.
In his own statement, Zelensky reiterated the need for more dialogue with the US,
noting that previous discussions with Trump had not yet been “enough to form a plan” for peace. He also said Ukraine would need to
double the size of its army without Nato membership.
He and Vance met later in the day, having what the US vice-president described as a
“fruitful” conversation, with Zelensky saying they needed to “speak more, work more and stop Putin”.
Away from Munich, Ukraine alleged that a Russian strike damaged the
protective shield over the Chernobyl nuclear power plant overnight – a claim
the Kremlin has since denied.
We’re ending our live coverage of the conference, but here’s a
list of BBC content to keep you informed:
Earlier on I took part in a Q&A session on the BBC News
channel, answering your questions on the war in Ukraine and what this week’s
developments – both in and away from Munich – could mean for peace in the
country.
One question that gets asked a lot is: why did Russia attack
Ukraine in the first place?
The root of the problem is that Ukraine being part of Russia or
being influenced by Russia is still central to the way Russia sees itself. The
ruling class and a sizeable chunk of the population have never really accepted
that Ukraine is a different nation, with different language and identity.
Vladimir Putin openly denies this, calling Ukrainians part of
the Russian people. He has also written an article titled “On the historical
unity of Russians and Ukrainians”.
Some call it imperialism, some call it a bad case of the dumped
lover syndrome “Iâll make you mine or Iâll destroy you”.
Putin also says he had to launch his “special military
operation” because Ukraine was threatening Russia and could have attacked it –
likely with Natoâs help.
Our colleagues at Ukrainecast have been digesting a busy day of
diplomatic wranglings in Munich and assessing the degree to which the US and
Europe remain united over Ukraine.
Co-host Vitaly Shevchenko asks whether this is âthe beginning of
the end of this unified Western alliance that could sort outâ the war in
Ukraine, while BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale says the alliance is
âsorely tested.â
You can listen to the whole episode on BBC Sounds.
Vice-president JD Vance travelled to Munich to speak with foreign leaders at the security conference, but his remarks today also seemed directed at an American audience.
“We know very well in America that you cannot win a democratic mandate by censoring your opponents or putting them in jail, whether that’s the leader of the opposition, a humble Christian praying in her own home, or a journalist trying to report the news,” he said.
“Nor can you win one by disregarding your basic electorate on questions like: who gets to be a part of our shared society?”
The European leaders may have viewed the young vice-president as lecturing them on their actions and attitudes, but Vanceâs domestic message was clear. Trump has condemned the various criminal charges against him in the past two years as a “political prosecution” aimed at stopping him from returning to power. He has also accused the Biden administration of investigating Christians who object to diversity les
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