Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky will open the Munich Security Conference on Friday, as world leaders gather to renew their vow to back Kyiv against Russian forces ahead of the first anniversary of Moscow’s invasion. Follow FRANCE 24 for the latest updates. All times are Paris time (GMT+1).
1:05pm Ukraine’s Zelensky to open Munich conference focused on war
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to open the Munich Security Conference via video link, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and France’s President Emmanuel Macron also set to speak.
The spotlight of the conference will be on the Ukraine war, as world leaders gather to renew their vow to back Kyiv against Russian forces ahead of the first anniversary of Moscow’s invasion.
Others attending the gathering include US Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, China’s top diplomat Wang Yi and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg.
Russian delegates including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who was a regular attendee at Munich in the past, have not been invited.
Representing Ukraine at the conference, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said he planned talks with a series of top officials focused on weapons supplies. “The priorities will be speeding up the supply of arms and ammunition already promised to Ukraine, and the adoption of political decisions in the future on the provision of combat aircraft for Ukraine,” he said in an Instagram post.
6am: Kyiv seeking billions to counter war damage
Pictures of devastation in Ukraine following Russia’s invasion have sparked urgent questions over the country’s reconstruction. Kyiv is seeking billions of dollars for the reconstruction.
After a 30% contraction in its economy in 2022, Ukraine will need $38 billion by the end of year to cover its budget deficit alone.
On top of that, Kyiv said it will need $17 billion this year for urgent energy repairs, de-mining and to rebuild some of its critical infrastructure.
While the EU is expected to provide the lion’s share of funds to cover the budget deficit at $18 billion, and Washington a further $10 billion, Kyiv has yet to identify sources of funding to meet additional costs.
3:30am: US support for Ukraine solid, says senator en route to Munich
The US remains steadfast in its support for war-torn Ukraine, a leading Democratic senator told AFP before heading to the world’s largest global security conference in Germany.
“The eccentrics get press attention, but I think the strong solid central weight of even House Republicans is behind continuing to support Ukraine, so long as there are not corruption concerns,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, chairman of the powerful Budget Committee.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)
Read more analysis on the war in Ukraine (C) France M?dias Monde graphic studio
