Scholz and Zelensky sign long-term security pact Battle of Avdiivka: “It’s hell”

Crumbling support for Ukraine in the US, looming conflagration in the Middle East, transatlantic future, difficult China, climate change: the current world crises are on the agenda at the 60th Munich Security Conference this Saturday. The most spectacular guest is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He wants to come to Munich for the first time since the Russian attack on his country. Immediately before this, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) will speak before about fifty heads of state and government from all over the world. US Vice President Kamala Harris also wants to talk to Scholz and Zelensky behind closed doors.

Here’s what’s happened so far

Scholz and Zelenskyj concluded a long-term security pact during Ukraine’s visit to Berlin on Friday. After the signing, the Chancellor assured that Germany would continue to support independent Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s war of aggression – “as long as necessary”. In addition, the country will be supported in building modern armed forces “to deter any future attack”.

At the same time, Germany promised Ukraine additional weapons worth about 1.1 billion euros. These include 36 howitzers, 120,000 artillery ammunition, two additional air defense systems and Iris-T missiles. This is important as the country faces increasing ammunition shortages, for example due to the continued lack of further financial support from the US. This is one of the reasons why the Munich appearance and meeting with Harris will likely be particularly important for Zelensky.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visits Munich

The appearance of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is eagerly awaited. The head of the Munich Security Conference, Christoph Heusgen, wants to discuss China’s role in the world with him.

For example, China has repeatedly emphasized at the United Nations that it wants to play a “constructive role in a political solution to the Ukraine crisis.” At the same time, Beijing is giving Moscow political support in the geopolitical tug-of-war with Washington. Beijing has also been criticized for years in the Indo-Pacific for its increasingly aggressive behavior there. Yet the West cannot avoid China if it wants to get the climate crisis under control. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) is also planning a bilateral meeting with Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

Humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and two-state solution

Later in the afternoon, the situation in the Gaza Strip and the threat of conflagration in the Near and Middle East if the Gaza war were to spread will be the focus of the discussions. In the evening, Israeli President Izchak Herzog will speak about his country’s vision on the road to stability and peace. High-ranking representatives of the Palestinian Authority and the Arab countries Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt and Jordan will also be on stage on Saturday.

The news of Navalny’s death overshadows the beginning

The 60th Munich Security Conference was opened on Friday by UN Secretary General António Guterres. The start of the conference was overshadowed by reports of the death of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny in a Russian prison. His wife Julia subsequently attacked Russian President Vladimir Putin en masse in a speech at the security conference. At the same time, she stated that she could not confirm whether the obituary circulated by the Russian judiciary was true.

On Saturday evening (5:30 p.m.), away from the conference’s main stage, Navalny’s possible death will likely be discussed again. Subsequently, the Russian cultural scientist and Nobel Prize winner Irina Shcherbakova and the Russian journalist Zhanna Nemtsova, who emigrated to Germany, will appear on the Future of Russia programme. (saw/sda/dpa)