At Munich conference U.S. message aims to reassure Europe; Zelensky pushes for more air defenses

Speakers at the Munich Security Conference, as reported in the bulletin, sought to reassure anxious European partners about U.S. commitment and transatlantic ties.

The program said the speech by the U.S. secretary of state, who led the American delegation in Munich, aimed to counter headlines predicting a breakdown of the transatlantic partnership and stressed that the current U.S. administration does not seek to divide allies. The report summarized that the U.S. wants a strong Europe capable of defending itself and that Washington intends to continue efforts on ending the war in Ukraine.

The bulletin also reported that Marco Rubio appeared on stage and "заверил, что США не откажутся от усилий закончить войну в Украине." Reporters said a follow-up negotiating round is scheduled in Geneva on Feb. 17–18 and that, according to the U.S. speaker, negotiators narrowed the list of disputes but the remaining issues are the hardest to resolve.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who spoke at the conference, was quoted describing the extent of attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and urging further support for Ukraine’s air defenses and defense production. The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, praised the U.S. remarks and urged closer ties between civilian industry and defense to strengthen Europe’s security.

The bulletin attributed on-the-ground reporting to journalists Zaryana Stepanenko and Mara Hayduk, who are covering the conference from Germany. The program framed the speeches as both public messaging and an opportunity for behind-the-scenes meetings among leaders.