Closing summary
Jakub Krupa
… and on that note, it’s a wrap for today!
I will be back tomorrow morning to bring you the speeches of several key leaders, including the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio (10:36), Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the UK’s Keir Starmer, who are all set to take to the Munich Security Conference’s stage tomorrow.
Munich Security Conference 2026: where does the US-EU relationship stand? – video
Here is your summary of the first day:
The German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, told Donald Trump that “in the era of great power rivalry, even the US will not be powerful enough to go alone” (14:21) in a wide-ranging speech rebuking some of the US criticism of Europe and calling for a new, reinvented transatlantic partnership (14:19, 14:24, 14:42) as he warned the old world order “no longer exists” (14:02).
Merz also disclosed he had held initial talks with the French president, Emmanuel Macron, over the possibility of joining France’s nuclear umbrella, as part of his broader call for Europe to develop a stronger self-standing security strategy (14:07, 14:15).
Macron later picked up that theme, revealing his talks with Merz and few other European leaders and trailing a further speech on this in the coming weeks (19:38, 19:58).
The French president also mounted a passionate, optimistic defence of Europe’s place in the world (19:18), dismissing US criticisms (19:18, 19:43, 20:20) and urging it to “reorganise our architecture of security” on the continent, including a long-term position on Russia (19:33).
Elsewhere,
Numerous European leaders reiterated their support for Ukraine and questioned Russia’s commitment to reaching a peace deal (11:01, 14:30, 16:15, 20:35).
The Danish and Greenlandic prime ministers held “constructive” talks with the US secretary of state Marco Rubio amid continued US interest in acquiring Greenland (19:14).
US congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and California governor Gavin Newsom criticised Trump policies as the two Democratic presidential hopefuls in 2028 sought to outline an alternative US vision of transatlantic and foreign policies (16:58, 18:22).
And that’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, for today.
If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at jakub.krupa@theguardian.com.
I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.
Key events
2d ago
Closing summary
2d ago
Zelenskyy says Ukraine can hold elections if Trump agrees 2-3 months of ceasefire with Russia
2d ago
Zelenskyy says he thinks Russia doesn’t want to end war, should face further pressure
2d ago
Macron’s positive vision for Europe offers hope, but will not be to everyone’s liking – snap analysis
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Macron’s Munich speech – in pictures
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Macron urges Europe to ‘show unwavering commitment to defend interests’ with swipes on the US
2d ago
Macron calls for Europe’s place at table for talks on future security arrangements with Russia
2d ago
Macron urges leaders to ‘speak about homework behind closer doors and deliver’
2d ago
Macron says he wants send message ‘of hope and determination’ on Europe’s future
2d ago
Denmark, Greenland hold ‘constructive’ talks with US
2d ago
France’s Macron about to address Munich Security Conference
2d ago
Quick look at bilateral meetings at Munich Security Conference
2d ago
US ‘not powerful enough to go it alone’, Merz tells Munich conference
2d ago
UK foreign minister ‘hugely sceptical’ of Putin’s commitment to peace, calls for pressure on Russian economy
2d ago
Three points yet to be agreed in 20-point plan for ending Russian invasion of Ukraine, foreign minister Sybiha says
2d ago
Trump is ‘tearing apart’ transatlantic partnership, ‘ripping up’ democratic norms, Ocasio-Cortez warns
2d ago
Trump repeats his endorsement of Hungary’s Orbán hours after Merz’s criticism
2d ago
MSC Townhall room packed as Ocasio-Cortez makes Munich debut
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Trump ‘most destructive president’ ever, Newsom says
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Watch out for Macron’s language on Europe and nuclear deterrence – snap analysis
2d ago
Europe needs strength to face new global ‘disorder,’ Denmark’s Frederiksen says in diplomacy push
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Palpable US-EU tension on how new world order could look like – snap analysis
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US under Trump ‘returning world from the brink,’ Waltz insists as he rejects criticism
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Trump will ‘do for UN what he’s done for Nato’ over last decade, US Waltz says
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Merz’s speech will set tone of Munich talks on reshaping US relations – snap analysis
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Merz’s Hungary comments will spark reaction – snap analysis
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‘I don’t want to lose you,’ Germany’s Merz tells EU candidate countries
2d ago
Russia not yet willing to talk seriously about Ukraine, Merz warns
2d ago
Europe needs to resolve its ‘self-inflicted’ dependency on US to rebalance transatlantic relations
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‘In era of great power rivalry, even US will not be powerful to go alone’, Merz says
2d ago
Merz rebukes US criticism of Europe
2d ago
‘If Europe is torn apart, we are torn apart,’ Merz talks on EU alliances
2d ago
Merz calls for discussion on EU’s ‘mutual assistance’ clause
2d ago
‘Big power politics’ in Europe is not an option for Germany, Merz says
2d ago
‘Turn switch in our minds’ to make Europe superpower and face chaos of new world order, Merz says
2d ago
World order as we know it ‘no longer exists,’ Germany’s Merz warns
2d ago
MSC’s Ischinger puts leaders on spot as he lists pointed ‘serious’ questions
2d ago
Munich Security Conference gets under way
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‘Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats now’
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Nato’s Rutte expects Rubio to press Europeans to ‘take more leadership role’ in alliance
2d ago
Zelenskyy welcomes first joint Ukrainian-Germany drone manufacturing line
2d ago
Focus on Ukraine with Zelenskyy, foreign minister Sybiha attending side events
2d ago
German chancellor Merz arrives ahead of his Munich speech
2d ago
What does Europe’s future look like? – Q&A with Jon Henley
2d ago
‘No shah, no mullah’ Iran protest outside Munich conference
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US Rubio expected to speak with Danish, Greenlandic leaders on sidelines of Munich conference
2d ago
Key events of the day
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What to expect from 2026 Munich Security Conference? – video
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Nato’s Rutte talks up ‘shift in mindset’ among leaders as he warns against falling for Russian propaganda
2d ago
EU’s von der Leyen, Nato’s Rutte arrive for talks in Munich
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We only see tip of iceberg as Munich becomes place to do business this weekend – snap analysis
2d ago
Rubio lands at Munich airport ahead of key speech
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Europeans ‘want honesty, want to know where we are going’, Rubio says ahead of Munich speech
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Morning opening: World order ‘under destruction’
2d ago
Opening Summary
Show key events only
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Ukraine’s Zelenskyy will have a chance to raise all these points directly with US secretary of state Rubio, as they are expected to meet in Munich tomorrow, Reuters reported.
Zelenskyy says he sees three elements that are needed to end the war: strong security guarantees, a reconstruction deal to help Ukraine after the war, and even more direct pressure on Russia.
He says Trump could even push for “total sanctions” on Russia, including on nuclear energy and even on Russians in the west.
He says:
“He can put [sanctions] on all their energy, on nuclear energy. He can give this message to Europeans. Europeans [did] a lot, but didn’t put … sanctions on nuclear energy of Russians on Rosatom, on people, on their relatives, on their children, [who] live in Europe, [who] live in the United States, [who] study in the universities of Europe, [who] have real estate in the United States … They have children, relatives everywhere.”
He says they should “go home” to Russia (erm, he may have also phrased it slightly more strongly) as they don’t respect the US or Europe.
Asked what he hopes to see this time next year, he says “I hope that we will have peace, that all our people will again [go] back to normal life and I hope that we will have some time for my children.”
But he jokes he’s not sure if his children would want the same on the last point.
And shortly after the Politico interview wraps up.
Updated at 15.23 EST
Zelenskyy also gets asked about his expectations about Rubio’s speech tomorrow.
He says:
“I don’t know. We will see, it’s up to him.”
ShareZelenskyy says Ukraine can hold elections if Trump agrees 2-3 months of ceasefire with Russia
Zelenskyy also gets asked about whether Ukraine can hold elections, amid reported US pressure on Kyiv.
He says he would be in principle happy to do it “as quick as possible,” but points out that the war needs to stop first.
If the US wants him to hold the election soon, the best way to do it is by ending the war as soon as possible.
He says he needs security guarantees to hold elections.
Pushed on this point, he declares that “if president Trump, and I think that he can [do it], … pushes Putin [into] ceasefire [that will last for] two, three months, we will do elections.”
In a somewhat cheeky comment, Zelenskyy also notes that at 48 he is much younger than Putin, 73.
He says the Russian leader “doesn’t have too much time,” before adding: “God bless not too much time.”
Zelenskyy also says that Trump wants to agree a peace deal “all at once,” as he “like things in one big package,” like he did with his “one, big, beautiful bill” – but says the sequence of getting things agreed is important here and needed to provide Ukraine with genuine reassurance.
Zelenskyy gets also asked about Russia’s territorial demands, and he pushes back on them as essentially giving in to Moscow’s ambitions to get Ukraine, bit by bit.
He says he keeps trying to explain that point to partners, including the US.
He also talks about the risk of agreeing to any sort of compromise to get a deal without sufficient security guarantees that could see the new arrangement to be violated by Russia again in further pursuit of Ukraine’s territory.
Updated at 14.45 EST
Zelenskyy says he thinks Russia doesn’t want to end war, should face further pressure
There is now a break in the main programme, but Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy is using it to speak to Politico on the sidelines of the conference about the latest in talks about ending the war.
He says there are some suggestions from the US that Ukraine could compromise on some issues to end the war.
But he says:
“We made a lot of compromises. Putin and his friends, they are not in prison. This is the biggest compromise that the world made already.”
He says Ukraine “can’t forget” how many people were killed during the war, but he says Kyiv is ready to end it anytime – but Putin shows no genuine interest in doing that, so more pressure on Russia is needed.
Asked about Russia’s intentions, he says:
“I don’t think that they want to stop the war. I think that they can, … under pressure … That’s why, until there is no enough pressure, they play [games].”
Pushed further on what he makes of the fact that the US is pressuring Ukraine and Russia similarly, he says “there are some thoughts which I have to keep to myself.”
Updated at 14.42 EST
Macron’s positive vision for Europe offers hope, but will not be to everyone’s liking – snap analysisJakub Krupa
in Munich
Macron has delivered what he said he would do and set out a positive, almost hopeful, view of what can be done achieved by a more integrated, confident European Union.
And there will be plenty of people excited by the vision he outlined.
His repeated swipes and pushbacks on the US administration’s clashes with Europe – on tariffs, Greenland (19:43), and social media regulation (19:50), and broader alleged failures on migration, regulation and free speech (19:18) – were well received by the Munich audience and will no doubt resonate beyond the room – just as his words when he talked about the need for Europe to be respected.
But some of his ideas are likely to be seen as pretty controversial: whether that’s on the extent of planning for or engagement (or ‘coexistence’) with Russia, on the new European nuclear sharing programme, or on (fairly extensive, by the sound of it) social media regulation he proposed, which critics would no doubt see as too invasive.
Finally, there is also a part of me that simply cannot ignore the fact that Macron continues to be deeply unpopular in France and is nearing the end of his term, which puts a question mark on just how much of that almost visionary talk can actually be realistically done.
Updated at 15.26 EST
Macron’s Munich speech – in picturesFrench president Emmanuel Macron speaks at the 62nd Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany. Photograph: Thomas Kienzle/AFP/Getty ImagesEmmanuel Macron speaks during the 62st Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany. Photograph: Ronald Wittek/EPAShare
Macron also gets a question on Ukraine and on why he is not prepared to send troops into Ukraine before a peace deal is agreed with Russia.
He gives a pretty long and nuanced answer on this, once again stressing Europe’s long way to get to where it is now, with its strong financial backing for Kyiv, “no more dependent on the US financial support”.
He says he sees no evidence that Russia is serious about getting a peace deal now as it continues to bomb civilians and delay talks, while trying to secure various concessions from Ukraine.
He says Europe cannot send troops now because it would be blamed for escalating the tensions, making the situation even worse, and it’s response would be probably divided.
So, he says, the focus should be “to come to re-engage with the US, assessing … the fact that there is no more room for credible short-term negotiation, and putting additional sanctions” on Russia and actions against its shadow fleet.
“I perfectly understand and respect the fact that this view is not the ideal one for you, but this is, I think, a credible one, and, in the short run, the best possible scenario.”
And that ends the Q&A and his speech.
In the Q&A, Macron spells out the task he detailed in his speech, as he says Europeans will need “reorganise our architecture of security in Europe”.
He says “the past architecture of security was totally designed and framed during cold war times,” and doesn’t fit today’s challenges.
He says today’s focus is on Ukraine, but the leaders should look beyond that to plan what the future security arrangement should look like.
He also says a bit more on his thinking about the European nuclear programme, and says he will speak more about this idea “in the next few weeks.”
But he reveals he worked with Germany’s Merz and “with few European leaders” to spell it out and propose safeguards and mechanisms for how it could be governed.
Politico reported recently that Macron was working on a policy speech near Brest, which hosts the base of the French nuclear ballistic missile submarines.
Macron then turns into the issue of regulating social media platforms and fighting disinformation online, painting this as part of a broader effort to ensure integrity of European democratic processes.
He says:
“How is that the craziest and most harmful narratives can go unchecked in our digital space, where they would fall under the law if published in print?”
He pointedly praises the the bloc’s attempt to regulate this space, EU’s Digital Services Act – which regularly gets criticised by the US administration – as he says that “to say free speech means no regulation on our social media meaning free speech would mean I will give the mind, … the heart of my teenagers to algorithm of big guys I’m not totally sure I share the values of or Chinese algorithm without any control.”
He says that’d be “crazy” and mentions the French push to regulate social media.
“When you have free speech, you have respect, you have rules – and the limit of my freedom is the beginning of your freedom and respect is part of free speech,” he says.
He gets some applause here.
He then lists a number of specific policy asks on digital, including measures against bots, urging for “one single person with one account” approach, and more transparency on how algorithms work and on enforcement against platforms that don’t abide by European rules.
He ends by going back to the main theme of his speech, calling for “audacity” and “strong Europe.”
He says a reformed Europe would be “a good ally and partner for the US,” taking its “fair share of the burden,” and respected as it deserves to be.
“We did a lot, and we will do more, but we will follow this path, believe me,” he says.
Updated at 14.24 EST
Macron urges Europe to ‘show unwavering commitment to defend interests’ with swipes on the US
Macron continues his call to reassert Europe’s position globally, as he adds some swipes at the US trade and foreign policy towards Europe.
“If we want to be taken seriously on the European continent and beyond, we must show the world our unwavering commitment to defend our own interests. It starts, of course, with continuing to extend our support to Ukraine, but it could nicely follow with fanning off unjustified tariffs and politely declining unjustified claims on European territory.
This is what we did and this is what we will [continue to] do.”
He obviously appears to refer to the US threat of tariffs and Trump’s plans for Greenland.
Macron also talks about the need to work on shared defence and security projects, warning that both national solutions or move to favour national providers would risk “wasting our money and time,” and be “a huge mistake.”
He points to the importance of the SAFE mechanism in helping with Europe’s push to build its defence industries.
“This is European money, and it will be used for European solutions and European programmes,” he says.
He also picks up Merz’s earlier suggestion of a European nuclear arms programme, as he says “it’s very important the discussion we have with the UK, Germany, but open to a lot of other European players to have a new generation of long range missiles that will give Europe a new edge.”
Updated at 13.42 EST