NATO, Syria & Ukraine in ‘post fake’ world: Munich Security Conference highlights & memorable quotes – RT
The future of NATO and its relations with Russia amid turbulent US foreign policy, as well as the Syrian and Ukrainian conflicts in an era of Cold War style media hysteria have dominated the three-day Munich Security Conference.
Russia is ready to work together with NATO, but its expansion has led to an unprecedented level of tension in Europe, the Russian FM Sergey Lavrov told the conference. Moscow is open for political dialogue and diplomacy but believes it does not make any sense without military cooperation. NATO, however, has not shown a readiness for such cooperation.
The US seemingly tried to reassure its allies, alarmed by Donald Trumps campaign statements on the alliance being obsolete. America strongly supports NATO and is fully committed to this transatlantic alliance, the US Vice President Pence said at the conference. As you keep faith with us, under President Trump we will always keep faith with you, he added, reiterating, the demand, however, that allies to pay their fair share of 2 percent of GDP to maintain NATO.
From predictable position of force? NATOs chief tells Russias FM theres room for dialogue
When even one ally fails to do their part, it undermines all of our ability to come to each others aid, Pence stated, clearly implying that failure to increase spending was not an option for NATO nations.
As long as the EU and NATO complement and not compete with each other, the future of the transatlantic bond is quite bright, NATOs SG Jens Stoltenberg said, since the EU and US desire to be strong does not mean they should be alone.
Germany and France however, did not seem to be entirely reassured by Pences speech. I dont know where Germany can find billions of euros to boost defense spending if politicians also want to lower taxes, Germanys FM Sigmar Gabriel said, while his French counterpart, posted quite a salty tweet that Pence didnt say a word on the EU.
High-ranking diplomats involved in efforts to end the Syrian conflict have acknowledged the crucial role of Russia. The Astana talks is an important milestone in the reconciliation process, as the Syrian government and rebels met for the very first time at a negotiating table instead of the battlefield. And while not being an alternative to the upcoming Geneva negotiations, it should be viewed as a valuable supplement, the UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura believes.
READ MORE: Russia & Turkey-brokered Syria ceasefire has more chances than any other UN Syria envoy
The UN representative also said the not-so-secret Russian-Turkish meetings helped avert the worst case scenario in the battle of Aleppo and saved tens of thousands of civilian lives.
The new ceasefire, brokered by Russia, Iran, and Turkey is holding better than the previous one since these countries have actual influence on the ground in Syria.
Previous efforts, undertaken by Russia and the US, failed since Washington didnt have such influence, US special presidential envoy for the US-led coalition against IS, Brett McGurk, conceded, stating that we became a bit of a Ping-Pong ball to try and control the situation.
The modern world lives in a post-truth period which can only be overcome through an old-school justice and modesty approach, Russias FM Sergey Lavrov believes. Only honest work without lies and fake news is the way to resist hysterical information wars imposed on the international community."
READ MORE: Post-truth & post-fake crossroads: Russian FMs top quotes at Munich Security Conference
Not everyone, unfortunately, shares the approach of the Russian FM, since the narrative of a Russian threat, Russian hacks and other baseless allegations have repeatedly emerged during the Munich conference. US Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), for example, has warned France and Germany to wake up referring to their upcoming elections, since the Russians were coming after you. The Senator then promised Lavrov some consequences and vowed to kick Russia in the ass in Congress.
READ MORE: Year of kicking Russia in the ass: US Senator Graham urges more Russia sanctions
Russian, French, Ukrainian and German diplomats have reached a new agreement on a ceasefire in Ukraine starting February 20.We have actively supported this decision and obviously expressed a conviction that this time, failure should not be allowed, the Russian FM Sergey Lavrov said afterward.
The diplomats reiterated the importance of the Normandy format and said there was no need to include new parties, referring to the US. The Minsk deal is perceived to be the only way to untangle the conflict, and Russians and Ukrainians have no other option but to respect it, the French FM Jean-Marc Ayrault said.
READ MORE: No need to include US in Ukraine peace talks, German FM says
Lavrov noted that the lack of progress in the reconciliation process should not be blamed solely on Russia, as the other parties are equally responsible too.
President Vladimir Putin's decree acknowledging passports and other documents of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk Republics was announced during the conference out of humanitarian concerns, leading to a hysterical reaction from Ukrainian officials.
President Petro Poroshenko called it yet another proof of Russia's violation of international law and claimed the rogue republics to be an occupied territory. The decree, however, is motivated not by political, but humanitarian considerations and it would remain in place until the Minsk agreements are fulfilled.
- Smell of war comes to St Petersburg as Ukraine hammers Russian refineries - Al Jazeera - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- Mariia Vainshtein dreamed of going to America for college. The war in Ukraine brought her there sooner - Tennis.com - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- Investing in Tomorrow: Strengthening Human Development and Resilience in Ukraine - worldbank.org - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- Child rescued from rubble after Russia ramps up strikes on Ukraine - Al Jazeera - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- Ukraine regains control of frontline areas in southeast and east, army chief says - Reuters - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- Russia jails former Kursk governor in Ukraine incursion-linked graft probe - Al Jazeera - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- Why Trees Are Key to Russias Spring Offensive in Ukraine - The New York Times - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- With the World Focused on Iran, Ukraine Stuns Russia in the Mediterranean - Haaretz - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- Tucson man extradited from Ukraine to face justice 32 years after fleeing conviction - KVOA - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- Colin Dodd Homage to Ukraine - TheaterMania - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- Ukraine Hits Major Oil Terminal in Southern Russia Moscow - The Moscow Times - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- How the Ukraine and Iran Wars Became Intertwined - The National Interest - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- Russia says 'highly likely' that Ukraine planted explosives near gas pipeline - France 24 - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- A long Mideast war could take away from support for Ukraine, Zelenskyy tells the AP - Aurora Sentinel - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- The Lifeline Burns: Ukraine Takes Aim at the Heart of Russias Oil Empire - Space Daily - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- For the First Time, Ukraine Outguns Russia in Long-Range Drone Attacks - UNITED24 Media - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- A long Mideast war could take away from support for Ukraine, Zelenskyy tells the AP - AP News - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- Japan's aid to Ukraine harms ties with Russia: foreign ministry - news.cgtn.com - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- Russia issues veiled threats to Baltic states over Ukraine airspace claims they have long denied - kyivindependent.com - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- Ukraine faces balancing act as it seeks to build ties with Syria - thenationalnews.com - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- Ukraine may be using new weapon that disables infrastructure without explosions - Euromaidan Press - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- Why Orbn needs Ukraine Zelensky is the perfect scapegoat - UnHerd - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- Ukraine war briefing: Slovakia PM calls on EU to lift sanctions on Russian oil and gas - The Guardian - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- A long Mideast war could take away from support for Ukraine, Zelenskyy tells the AP - The Boston Globe - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- How Russia is taking advantage of the Iran war to pummel Ukraine - The Times - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Ukraine asked to ease attacks on Russian oil refineries amid Iran war price surge, Budanov says - The Kyiv Independent - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Russia and Ukraine trade deadly strikes as Zelenskyy travels to Istanbul for talks with Erdogan - Yahoo - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- At least 15 killed in Russian attacks on Ukraine as Zelenskyy meets Erdogan - aljazeera.com - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Russia and Ukraine trade deadly strikes as Zelenskyy travels to Istanbul for talks with Erdogan - TelegraphHerald.com - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Ukraine war briefing: Russian army records almost no territorial gains for first time since 2023, analysis shows - The Guardian - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Zelenskiy says frontline situation best for Ukraine in the last 10 months - Reuters - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- The frontline is like Terminator: fighting robots give Ukraine hope in war with Russia - The Guardian - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Russia loses 1,180 troops in war against Ukraine over past day - Ukrinform - Ukrainian National News Agency - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Why Israel and Ukraine Irritate the World, or The Geopolitics of Loneliness - The Times of Israel - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Ukraine boosts farm equipment compensation to 40% for farmers in war-affected areas - Ukrinform - Ukrainian National News Agency - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Ukraine extradites foreign fighter who fought for Russia to Azerbaijan - Ukrinform - Ukrainian National News Agency - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Russia attacks Ukraine with nearly 100 drones: hits recorded at 10 locations - Yahoo - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Can Ukraine help reopen the Strait of Hormuz? Here's what Zelensky can offer - The Kyiv Independent - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- President Discussed Support for Ukraine and Efforts to Achieve a Dignified Peace with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Official website of the... - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Ukraine restores nearly half of power generation wiped out by Russia - The Kyiv Independent - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Ukraine: 128 clashes with Russia in past 24 hours - Breakingthenews.net - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Delegation led by Witkoff and Kushner may visit Ukraine after Easter Budanov - Ukrinform - Ukrainian National News Agency - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- During a Meeting in Istanbul, the Presidents of Ukraine and Trkiye Discussed Strengthening Cooperation in the Areas of Security and Energy - - - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Ukraine hits key Russian plant in occupied Luhansk second time in month, grinding production to halt - The Kyiv Independent - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy says US has linked security guarantees to ceding of Donbas - The Guardian - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Welcome to 'New Russia': How the Kremlin is remaking occupied Ukraine - The Detroit News - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Iran war deflects attention from Ukraine as an emboldened Russia starts spring offensive - abcnews.com - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- In Rural Ukraine, Basic Health Care Is a Casualty of War - The New York Times - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Trump pressuring Ukraine to cede territory to Russia, Zelenskyy says - politico.eu - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Welcome to New Russia: How the Kremlin is remaking occupied Ukraine - Reuters - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- G7 allies meet against backdrop of wars in Ukraine and Iran, with unpredictable US - Reuters - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Russia says it hopes for new round of Ukraine talks with US as soon as conditions allow - The Detroit News - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Ukraine Spent Big to Shield Energy Industry From Drones. Is the Mideast Next? - The New York Times - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- The Coming Drone-War Inflection in Ukraine - IEEE Spectrum - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Russia fires more than 1,000 drones against Ukraine as spring offensive ramps up on battlefield - CNN - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Estonia and Latvia say drones hit their NATO territory as Ukraine and Russia traded attacks - CBS News - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- US security guarantees tied to Ukraine's withdrawal from Donbas, Zelensky says - The Kyiv Independent - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Ukraine faces new Russian offensive as peace talks stall - Reuters - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Ukraine's unique role in the Iran war: From the Politics Desk - NBC News - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Ukraine: four years of heartache - Anabaptist World - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Russian forces begin offensive in Ukraine as Zelensky worries about impact of Iran conflict - CNN - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Ukraine Crushes Russias Spring Offensive, Wiping Out a Week of Recruits in 3 Days - UNITED24 Media - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Iran war deflects attention from Ukraine as an emboldened Russia starts spring offensive - AP News - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Kenyans fighting illegally for Russia in Ukraine to be granted amnesty - BBC - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- The USA offers Ukraine a way to end the war - Defence24.com - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Ukraine terminates 116 agreements with Russia, Belarus, and CIS - Ukrinform - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Putins spring offensive in Ukraine has begun. Experts warn Trump has given Russia window of opportunity - The Independent - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Watch Iran, Ukraine Conflicts Top of the Agenda as G-7 Foreign Ministers Meet in in Vaux-de-Cernay, France - Bloomberg.com - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Latvia and the defense of Ukraine: the evolution of military support - - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Sweden to Join Special Tribunal for Investigating Russias War Crimes in Ukraine - UNITED24 Media - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- The National Guard of Ukraine Is a Force That Has Become One of the Key Pillars of Our Defense and Our Active Operations Along the Entire Front Line ... - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Ukraine v Sweden: where to watch and what you need to know about the most important match for the Ukrainian national team - Visit Ukraine - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Ukraine: Why is Ecocide So Hard to Prove? - Institute for War & Peace Reporting - IWPR - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Ukraine says it has terminated 116 agreements concluded with Russia, Belarus, CIS - Anadolu Ajans - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- US Army general who oversaw Ukraine left classified maps on train, overindulged in alcohol: IG report - Fox News - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- Zelenskyy: Ukraine has thwarted Russian offensive operation planned for March - - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- IMF Raises Alarm Over Aid to Ukraine With Parliament in Gridlock - Bloomberg.com - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- Opinion | I traveled to Ukraine to teach sociology. It left me amazed. - The Washington Post - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- Sean Penn skipped the Oscars to meet with Zelenskyy in Ukraine - San Francisco Chronicle - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- Ukraine's anti-drone tech is in high demand as Iran attacks its neighbors - NBC News - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]