Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for the creation of an “armed forces of Europe” during his keynote speech at the Munich Security Conference 2025, suggesting that Europe can no longer rely on U.S. support.
“I really believe that time has come,” Zelenskyy said on February 15. “The armed forces of Europe must be created.”
Zelensky reiterated the need for a “European army,” emphasizing that Europe has the capacity to produce its own artillery, air defense systems, and other critical military technologies.
Zelensky’s comments came amid growing concerns over shifting U.S. foreign policy priorities under the Trump administration, which some fear could undermine the long-standing relationship between the U.S. and the European Union.
“Ukraine will never accept deals behind our backs without our involvement,” Zelenskyy said. “The same rule should apply to all of Europe. No decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine — no decisions about Europe without Europe.
Zelenskyy meets Vance
During a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Germany, U.S. Vice President JD Vance emphasized his desire to “preserve the optionality” for those working to negotiate an end to the war, stressing the goal of achieving a “durable, lasting peace.”
“Fundamentally, the goal is as President Trump outlined: We want the war to come to a close. We want the killing to stop, but we want to achieve a durable, lasting peace—not the kind of peace that’s going to have Eastern Europe in conflict just a couple of years down the road,” he added.
When asked about the next steps if Ukraine is unwilling to engage with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the negotiating table, Vance declined to outline the specifics of the talks. “It’s important for us to get together and start having the conversations necessary to bring this thing to a close,” Vance said.
Zelensky thanked the United States for its support following a Friday meeting with US Vice President JD Vance and urged for more dialogue to end the war in Ukraine. “We are very thankful for American support,” Zelensky said after the meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Germany. “We had good conversations today, our first meeting, not last, I’m sure,” he added.
Vance’s fiery speech stuns Munich summit
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance delivered a blistering critique at the Munich Security Conference, lambasting Europe’s leaders on alleged censorship, failing to curb illegal migration and undermining democratic processes.
The conference, expected to focus on the Trump administration’s plans to end the war in Ukraine, instead turned into a fiery rejection of liberal values that have shaped Western Europe since World War II. Vance downplayed the threats posed by Russia and China, instead zeroing in on what he perceived as a greater danger to Europe’s future.
“The threat that I worry most about vis-a-vis Europe is not Russia, not China, it’s the threat from within, the retreat of Europe from its fundamental values,” Vance said. He also warned that silencing unorthodox viewpoints is “the most surefire way to destroy democracy.” He added, “If American democracy can survive 10 years of Greta Thunberg scolding, you guys can survive a few months of Elon Musk.”
Earlier, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said that Ukraine’s NATO membership is unrealistic and that the U.S. will no longer prioritize European and Ukrainian security as the Trump administration shifts its attention to securing its own borders and deterring war with China.
European leaders criticize attack
Vance’s remarks sparked immediate backlash from European leaders. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius sharply condemned the comments later in the day, calling it “not acceptable” for the U.S. vice president to compare Europe’s condition with that of “auto-authoritarian regimes.”
“This is not acceptable,” Pistorius declared in German. “This is not the Europe, not the democracy where I live and where I conduct my election campaign right now. And this is not the democracy that I witness every day in our parliament. In our democracy, every opinion has a voice.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hit back at Americans for meddling in his country’s election after JD Vance scolded European leaders over their approach to democracy and met with the leader of a German far-right party.
NATO chief urges Europe to increase defense spending
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte described U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s controversial speech on Friday as “philosophical,” emphasizing that Vance highlighted the unity between the U.S. and Europe while alluding to shared values like free speech and democracy.
Rutte acknowledged Europe’s understanding of the U.S.’s frustration with its higher defense spending compared to other NATO members, asserting that Europe must “grow up” and take greater responsibility for its defense.
He also noted that senior American officials have expressed a strong desire to bring the war in Ukraine to a swift conclusion. “A final deal in Ukraine must be a strong one,” Rutte stressed. “A weak deal would have repercussions not only for Europe and NATO’s collective security, but also for China, which could feel emboldened to act according to its own agenda.”