Trump's initiative for Ukraine peace talks in Munich unfolded through multiple phases, with Ukraine refusing to participate without prior Western alignment. Von der Leyen responded by calling for accelerated Ukrainian EU membership and proposing suspension of fiscal rules for defense spending. Zelensky later specified conditions for meeting Putin, requiring a unified Western position first.
Brussels promised "firm and immediate" retaliation to Trump's new VAT-based tariffs, continuing the economic confrontation that began with steel tariffs. Vance postponed his scheduled meeting with Zelensky to review rare earth agreements, then later met him to discuss "lasting peace."
A mass casualty incident at a Munich union gathering, with 36 injured, complicated the security conference's proceedings. Putin assembled a negotiating team of intelligence and diplomatic figures, signaling serious engagement with Trump's initiative.