By Askold Lozynskyj
The Munich Security Conference 2026 was hardly a revelation. Rather it was an affirmation of reality. This fact was apparent in opening remarks by the host, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The Chancellor did not lament the loss of American leadership. He simply acknowledged it and then stressed that European values are different from those of today’s America. He warned that Russia is a grave threat to world security as evidenced by its aggression in Ukraine. He affirmed that the defense of Ukraine was the duty of Europe and that Germany would be doing its part, in fact, more than ever.
Real evidence of the loss of American leadership was displayed hours later when Secretary of State Marco Rubio, having made in his speech at least diplomatic amends for the shameless display by America’s Vice President at the previous year’s conference, chose not to participate in the session of the conference dealing with Ukraine. While Rubio tried to be gentlemanly in his speech, actions spoke louder than words. Besides his absence at the Ukraine session, indisputable facts exist that the United States under President Trump provided no military or humanitarian assistance to Ukraine in 2025, the first year of Trump’s second term and that substantially more Ukrainian civilians were killed in 2025 than in any previous year of the full scale invasion. The Trump peace talks provided cover for the continuing genocide.
Adding insult to injury, without imposing any pressure or additional sanctions on Russia which has yet to make any concessions for the sake of peace, Trump gave Ukraine an ultimatum – deadline to reach a peace agreement by June 2026. Trump expects a difficult midterm election in November which may result in his third impeachment. Peace in Ukraine with Trump taking full credit may change that narrative, not to mention make his own Nobel peace prize less delusional.
The ever diplomatic President of Ukraine recognizing who are his real allies, urged that European representatives be included in the peace negotiations. Clearly this is for the sake of appearances. Ukraine and Europe are one and European security assurances are an integral part of any lasting peace, even if the current processes are deeply flawed. President Zelensky also continued to request that security assurances from the United States be in writing and executed knowing that they are currently not worth much when simply verbalized by Trump and the MAGA American side or perhaps hoping for an American regime change and that a written document, perhaps even a treaty, will be respected by future American governments.
The Conference was a discussion, entitled “Under destruction”. Of particular note were Chancellor Merz’s remarks about culture stressing that American MAGA culture is not European culture, referring to free speech and free trade: “The culture war of the MAGA movement is not ours. Freedom of speech ends here with us when that speech goes against human dignity and the constitution. We do not believe in tariffs and protectionism, but in free trade.”
It was not really an eye opener. Nevertheless, Trump in his infinite narcissism will never accept such a rebuke. But the American people are much more receptive, and frankly much more in tune with European culture which, in essence, is American culture too, albeit not MAGA’s. The bottom line is Trump and MAGA are not America. They are an aberration. America is the American people and Trump’s approval rating is in the mid thirties.
February 14, 2026
