Clear words to Putin

Zelensky invites Trump to “go to the front”

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17.02.2024 11:01

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi has made people sit up and take notice at the Munich Security Conference: He invited former US President Donald Trump to visit the front line in Ukraine. In doing so, Selensky sent a signal to the Trump-loving Republicans, who are blocking urgently needed US military aid. The head of state of Ukraine also had clear words for Vladimir Putin.

"I am ready to go to the front with Trump," said Zelensky following his speech when asked whether he would invite the former head of state, who wants to become US president again, to Kiev. Because the decision-makers need to be shown what real war means: "Not on Instagram, real war".

"Putin kills whoever he wants"
At the conference in Munich on Saturday, the Ukrainian president explained that Russia had only one decisive advantage in its invasion: "Human life has no value for the Russian state," said Selenskyj. "Putin kills whoever he wants". He mentioned the fighting around the city of Avdiivka, from which the Ukrainian army has now had to withdraw. There are seven dead Russians for every dead Ukrainian, said Selenskyj and emphasized: "It is already a tragedy to lose just one".

Selenskyj on Saturday at the much-noticed annual security conference in Munich (Bild: APA/AFP/Tobias SCHWARZ)
Selenskyj on Saturday at the much-noticed annual security conference in Munich
Selenskyj during his speech at the Bayerischer Hof in Munich (Bild: APA/AFP/Tobias SCHWARZ)
Selenskyj during his speech at the Bayerischer Hof in Munich

Speaking about the withdrawal, he said that it had been the right decision because they were waiting for weapons deliveries. "We have too few long-range weapons. We are waiting for support from our partners," Selensky appealed to the Western countries. He called on the international community to show determination in the fight against Russia. "If we don't act now, Putin will succeed in turning the world into a catastrophe".

Air sovereignty as a major goal
In order to be successful against Russia again, Ukraine must achieve air sovereignty. This would first require more air defense systems, says Selenskyj. "We don't have enough of them." In areas where Ukraine has air sovereignty, a normalization of life is possible. And: "It will be possible for our soldiers to move forward." Selenskyj also referred to the importance of drones in this context: "We will be able to surprise them this year," he said, referring to the Russian armed forces.


With regard to the death of Kremlin opponent Alexei Navalny, who died in a Siberian penal colony on Friday according to the Russian prison authorities, the 46-year-old explained that Putin had sent a clear message to the security conference by murdering a Russian opposition figure. This murder had shown that Putin was not the legitimate leader of Russia, but "a danger to all free nations", Selensky affirmed. There were only two options for Putin: Either end up before the International Criminal Court in The Hague, or be killed by his own people.

Olaf Scholz shortly before his speech in Munich (Bild: APA/AFP/Tobias SCHWARZ)
Olaf Scholz shortly before his speech in Munich

Germany doubles military aid
Earlier in his speech at the Security Conference, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had urged the EU partners to provide more financial aid to Ukraine - in the interests of their own security. Scholz said that Germany had almost doubled its military aid for the current year to more than seven billion euros, with commitments for the coming years amounting to six billion euros. He would like to see similar commitments from all EU countries.

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Money that we spend now and in the future on our security is lacking elsewhere. We feel that.

Deutschlands Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz

There are "critical voices that ask: shouldn't we spend the money for other purposes", the Chancellor conceded. Moscow is fueling such doubts with targeted disinformation campaigns in social media. "Money that we spend now and in the future on our security is lacking elsewhere. We feel that," admitted Scholz. "But I also say: without security, everything else is nothing," said the SPD politician, paraphrasing a quote from former German Chancellor Willy Brandt.

Wich sidesteps the Taurus question
During his appearance, however, the German Chancellor sidestepped the question of whether Germany would still supply Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. Production would have to be increased, especially for ammunition, he said. "Step by step, depending on the situation, we will then decide what needs to be done at the right moment," he added.

Russian economy "in war mode"
Scholz pointed out that the Russian armed forces were intact after two years of war despite enormous losses. "Russia has been preparing its army for this war for many years and has developed new, dangerous weapons systems at all levels. The Russian economy has long been working in war mode." Putin is sending more and more soldiers to the front. On the other hand, the West must ask itself whether enough is being done to signal to Putin that it is ready for a long period of crisis.

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