During the Munich Security Conference, President Vladimir V. Putin made it clear that nothing, including sanctions, condemnation, or attempted containment, would change his intentions to disrupt the current world order. Russia’s recent gains in Ukraine, Aleksei Navalny’s suspicious death, and the potential placement of a nuclear weapon in space by Mr. Putin have left the West anxious and unmoored. The possibility of the United States abandoning Europe and the slow reaction of European leaders to new realities have added to the dourness of the mood. The optimism of a year ago has now been replaced by a sense of strategic defeat in Ukraine, prompting European leaders to reconsider their defense strategies.
Nikolai Denkov, the prime minister of Bulgaria, emphasized the importance of drawing lessons from the ongoing troubles, highlighting the significance of the war in Ukraine in determining the fate of the democratic world. The situation has left Europe grappling with the question of whether the democratic world can be beaten, signaling a shift in understanding among European leaders.
The Munich Security Conference was dominated by discussions about the potential failure of Congress to fund new arms for Ukraine, the uncertainty surrounding Donald Trump’s stance on NATO, and the slow pace of European plans to rebuild their defense forces. The mood at the conference was a stark contrast to the optimism of the previous year, with the realization that Russia’s influence and power remain a significant threat to the West.
2024-02-18 14:05:28
Original from www.nytimes.com