Overview
- At the Munich Security Conference, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio struck a conciliatory tone, pledging partnership while warning Washington will act alone if needed and insisting allies bolster their own defenses.
- President Donald Trump publicly pressed Volodymyr Zelensky to seek a deal with Russia and to hold elections before summer, even as voting in Ukraine remains suspended under martial law.
- Rubio said it is unclear whether Moscow is serious about ending the war and stated the U.S. will keep testing a settlement Ukraine can accept, with reports pointing to Geneva talks expected next week.
- EU figures amplified a drive for greater self‑reliance in defense, with Ursula von der Leyen urging activation of Article 42.7 and the U.K.’s Keir Starmer calling Europe a “sleeping giant” that must assume primary responsibility.
- Rubio met European counterparts and China’s Wang Yi in Munich, and Spain registered discontent after being left out of several recent small‑group EU coordination meetings shaping positions on Ukraine and economic policy.