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Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Saturday (February 15) urged Europe to build its own armed forces amid waning assistance from the United States.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, Zelenskyy said, “Let’s be clear: We cannot rule out the possibility that America may refuse to cooperate with Europe on issues that threaten it."
“Many leaders have talked about Europe needing its own army. An army of Europe. I really believe that the time has come. The armed forces of Europe must be created,” the Ukrainian leader added.
‘Europe need Ukrainian army’
At the conference, Zelenskyy tried building a strong case for a powerful Ukrainian army and warned only money can’t stop the enemy’s assault.
“It is not just about increasing defense spending as a percentage of GDP. Of course, we need money, but money alone cannot stop the enemy’s advance," Zelenskyy said.
He further stated that only the Ukrainian army had modern warfare experience.
“Without the Ukrainian army, European armies will not be enough to stop Russia. This is the reality. Only our army in Europe has real, modern warfare experience,” Zelenskyy added.
The Ukrainian leader said European army was required so that Europe’s future depends only on the Europeans and the bloc can have strategic independence.
‘Russia planning mobilisation in Belarus’
The Ukrainian leader warned that Russia was about to deploy some 100,000 to 150,000 troops in Belarus, in a major security threat to Nato countries.
Zelenskyy made it clear at the conference that he won’t retreat on the issue of Nato membership but flirted with the idea of creating a new Nato inside Ukraine.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“My proposal — Ukraine’s eastern border, Belarus eastern border, the eastern borders of the Baltic states, Finland’s eastern border — that is the strongest security line for all of us in Europe, because that is the line of international law,” he said.
America’s waning support
US President Donald Trump has made clear he won’t support deploying American troops in Ukraine after the war ends. Trump has called for a mineral-sharing pact between Kyiv and Washington in return for security guarantees.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently warned European leaders that Washington DC won’t prioritise European security anymore.
“We’re also here today to directly and unambiguously express that stark strategic realities prevent the United States of America from being primarily focused on the security of Europe,” he said Wednesday, speaking from NATO’s Brussels headquarters, adding that Europeans would have to “take ownership of conventional security.”
“The US is prioritising deterring war with China in the Pacific,” he added.
(With inputs from agencies)
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