In Germany, the Munich Security Conference was opened. Her main theme is the war in Ukraine

In Germany, the 61st Munich Security Conference was opened. One of the central issues of the forum this year was the end of the Russian war with Ukraine, the correspondent of Novaya Gazeta Europe said.

“Putin destroyed the architecture of European security,” the head Christopher Hoysgen said in a welcoming speech at the opening of the Munich Security Conference. He also made it clear: the discussion of what to do with the Putin war against Ukraine will be in the spotlight within the next three days of the conference.

This was also confirmed in his speech by Germany President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. According to him, "possible ways to end the war will be at the center of discussions in Munich - both on the sidelines and mainly the meeting room."

“Everyone wants this war to end. How exactly it will end will have a long -term impact on the situation in the field of security and the situation of Europe and America in the world, ”Steinmeier assured. President of Germany added:

“With any scenario, our support for Ukraine should continue both from Europe and from the United States.”

This statement caused long applause.

The Munich Conference - the world's largest forum on security issues - will last three days. This time, among the participants - about 60 heads of states and governments, as well as 150 ministers. The head of the Munich Conference, Christoph Hoysgen, emphasized that this year the number of representatives of Asia, Africa and Latin America exceeded 30%mark, and women participating-50%.

The focus is the prospects for the settlement of the Russian-Ukrainian war after coming to power in the United States Donald Trump. The day before, the head of the White House said that on February 14, a meeting of representatives of the United States, Russia and Ukraine was planned on the conference. “I don’t know exactly who will represent which country. But high -ranking persons from Russia, Ukraine and the USA will be there, ”the US President said.

A few hours later, the adviser to Zelensky Dmitry Litvin told reporters that “the conversation [Ukrainians] with Russians in Munich is not provided”: “Ukraine should first speak with America. Europe should be a participant in any serious conversation <...>. And only a coordinated common position should be on the table to talk with the Russians. ” The presence of officials from Russia also refuted the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The bilateral Ukrainian-American meeting was officially confirmed. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky noted that he would meet with the American vice president Jay Di Wans and other representatives of the Trump team.

Initially, according to the Ukrainian media, the meeting was planned in the morning. But at the last moment it was postponed, the publication "European Pravda" reported . As sources in the Ukrainian delegation later told RBC-Ukraine, the American side asked about the transfer of time: the delegation members wanted to carefully study the new version of the partnership of rare-earth metals prepared by Kiev.

In addition, the issue of war in Ukraine to one degree or another will be affected by participants in dozens of events within the framework of the conference. In particular, on Friday, performances by Jay Di Wans, Vladimir Zelensky, head of the European Council Ursula von der Lyain, Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Van and, Minister of Defense of Germany Boris Pistorius and many others are planned.

A separate discussion will be devoted to Russia. On the topic “Russian repressions within the country and abroad” will be the widow of the politician Alexei Navalny Julia. The leader of the Belarusian opposition Svetlana Tikhanovskaya will take part in the same discussion.

Much attention will be devoted to the issue of future relations between the USA and Europe. The chairman of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany, the Chancellor Chancellors FRG Friedrich Mertz said that, according to his information, Jay Di Wans will be “confrontational”.

Representatives of the new American administration have already made it clear that Europe should no longer fully rely on security issues in the United States. So, the head of the Pentagon Pit Hegset on Thursday assured that President Trump would not let Sam’s “Uncle Sucker) from Uncle Sam, bearing that Europe should be ready to stand up for itself.

During his speech at the opening of the conference, Frank-Walter Steinmeyer admitted: “The new American administration has a completely different understanding of the world than ours. We cannot change it. ” He expressed the concern that "the leading world democracy and the global power states that you can do without rules." But he added that in this regard, it is necessary to "act as a united front with the United States." The main task for the near future, according to Steinmeier, is “to save the idea of ​​an international community.”

For three days, participants in panel discussions and round tables will discuss the most wide range of topics regarding security - in particular, the fight against terrorism, healthcare, climate, nuclear and “green” energy, artificial intelligence, crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as the situation in Georgia .