Ukraine's Zelensky meets US vice-president at Munich security conference
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What are the main topics covered in this episode?
This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Nick Miles, and in the early hours of Saturday, the 15th of February, these are our main stories. President Zelensky of Ukraine has met J.D. Vance at the Munich Security Conference after the U.S. vice president launched a wide-ranging attack on European politicians. African leaders at a summit in Ethiopia have agreed to increase their health budget and taxes to compensate for a freeze on foreign aid by the United States. The latest figures from South Korea indicate that the suicide epidemic among young people is continuing despite efforts to address it. Also in this podcast. Well, if you're familiar with YouTube, you may have heard that video.
Believe it or not, the video sharing platform is 20 years old. The future of Ukraine took centre stage at the International Security Conference in the German city of Munich on Friday. It came after several days of speculation about how President Trump's telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin on Wednesday might be the start of a process that will end the conflict. On the sidelines of the conference, the US Vice President J.D. Vance told reporters that Washington could impose economic sanctions on Russia if it refuses to agree what he called a good peace deal that guarantees Kyiv's long-term independence. There are economic tools of leverage, he said, and there are, of course, also military tools of leverage the US could use.
How did Zelensky's meeting with the US Vice President unfold?
Later, he addressed the delegates at the meeting.
This is a security conference, and I'm sure you all came here prepared to talk about how exactly you intend to increase defense spending over the next few years in line with some new target. And that's great, because as President Trump has made abundantly clear, he believes that our European friends must play a bigger role in the future of this continent. We don't think, you hear this term, burden sharing, but we think it's an important part of being in a shared alliance together that the Europeans step up while America focuses on areas of the world that are in great danger.
So the emphasis there was on American expectations of more military spending by Europe. Well, later in the day, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, met the US vice president at the Munich conference. Mr Zelensky said they'd had a good conversation and that it would not be their last. He said they needed to prepare a plan on how to stop President Putin and finish the war with Russia and that President Trump was key to making that happen.
I hope and we count that really President Trump will help us. And I really count on him. He is the president, and the United States is the biggest denator during the war. I mean, comparable with other countries. As I said, Europe also, but it's Europe, totally continent. Yes, United States gave a lot. That's why I count on him. People voted, and we really think, I see, yes, that he is a strong man. And if he will choose our side, And if he will not be in the middle, I think he will pressure and he will push Putin to stop the war. He can't do it.
The head of the European Commission is Ursula von der Leyen.
President Putin says he's willing to meet, but on what terms? It is up to him to demonstrate that his interest is not to prolong this war. It is up to him to show that he has given up his ambition to destroy Ukraine. And let me be very clear, a failed Ukraine would weaken Europe, but it would also weaken the United States.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What are the main topics covered in this episode?
0:38–2:21
2
How did Zelensky's meeting with the US Vice President unfold?
2:21–5:00
3
What is the European perspective on the security conference?
5:00–6:46
4
How is the US-Europe relationship evolving at the conference?
6:46–9:22
5
What are the implications of the Chernobyl attack?
9:22–16:04
6
What actions are being taken by African leaders regarding healthcare?
16:04–20:05
7
What is the current situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo?
20:05–26:13
8
How has YouTube transformed the entertainment industry?
26:13–36:18
Speakers
13 identifiedMore from Global News Podcast
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