The 2025 Munich Security Conference (MSC) was expected to center on two pressing issues: finding a path to end the war in Ukraine without yielding to Russian demands and urging European nations to increase their defense spending.
However, the event took an unexpected turn when US Vice President JD Vance delivered a speech that shocked attendees, shifting focus away from Ukraine and instead launching a sharp critique of Washington’s allies.
Vance, the highest-ranking US official at the conference, used his address to decry misinformation, disinformation, and what he described as the erosion of free speech in Europe. His remarks, which included criticism of Britain and other allied governments, were met with near-total silence from the audience.
Even an attempt at humor—suggesting that if American democracy could withstand a decade of Greta Thunberg’s activism, Europe could handle a few months of Elon Musk’s—failed to elicit any reaction.
His speech, which accused European leaders of abandoning their core values and disregarding voter concerns over migration and free speech, was widely seen as a diplomatic misstep. “It was extraordinarily poorly judged,” said one senior European diplomat.
Observers quickly speculated that Vance’s speech was not meant for the international audience in Munich but rather for American voters back home. A US commentator remarked afterward, “That was all for US domestic consumption.”
Despite the controversy, Vance did meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who tried to strike an optimistic tone. Describing their discussion as a “good conversation,” Zelensky expressed hope for closer cooperation with Washington in devising a strategy to end the war. “We want peace very much,” he said, “but we need real security guarantees.”
However, Ukraine’s position was significantly weakened just days before the conference when President Donald Trump, via Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, declared that restoring Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders was “not realistic.” This effectively undercut Ukraine’s negotiating leverage and dashed its aspirations of NATO membership. Trump also ruled out any US military intervention to help defend Ukraine against future Russian aggression.
The diplomatic fallout continued as news emerged that Trump had held a lengthy, seemingly cordial phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin—breaking the West’s years-long diplomatic freeze on Moscow since the 2022 invasion. The call alarmed European leaders, who fear Trump may be willing to strike a peace deal that heavily favors Putin, potentially legitimizing Russian territorial gains and emboldening future aggression.
As delegates prepare for Saturday’s high-profile debate on Ukraine, the mood in Munich is one of deep unease. European leaders worry that, in Trump’s pursuit of a swift peace settlement, Putin may emerge stronger and more emboldened to push further into Europe.
