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Russia is suffering "enormous losses" in Ukraine, with some 65,000 soldiers killed in two months, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said at the Munich Security Conference. At the same event, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Washington for insisting on asking for concessions from kyiv and not Moscow, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a less confrontational position, reaffirmed the validity of the transatlantic alliance and said that Trump seeks to "revitalize" it.
The essentials:
This minute by minute has ended. Below are the most relevant events from the day of February 14 related to the Munich Security Conference:
Zelensky and Rubio talk about negotiations with Russia and its attacks on Ukrainian energy
On the sidelines of the Munich Conference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a meeting in which they discussed the negotiations that Russians, Ukrainians and Americans are maintaining to end the war.
Zelensky also informed Rubio of the situation on the front and the effects of the latest Russian attacks against the energy system. "We have talked about how Ukraine can be helped to protect the population in the midst of the cold of winter and strengthen our resilience," the kyiv leader said in a message posted on his social networks.
"We have also talked in detail about the diplomatic process and trilateral meetings," Zelensky added in reference to the new round of talks, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday of next week in Geneva.
Rubio, for his part, stated in X that in the meeting with the Ukrainian president both spoke "about the security of Ukraine and the deepening of economic and defense alliances." "President Donald Trump wants a solution that ends the bloodshed once and for all," he said.
Pablo Begnini: "It is clear that the US and Europe need each other more and more"
A second day of debates at the Munich Security Conference has shown a United States that is less confrontational and more willing to maintain good deals with Europe. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that under Donald Trump's leadership, the U.S. aspires to lead a global "renewal and restoration," driven by a vision of sovereignty and strength. Although he made it clear that his country is willing to act alone if necessary, he insisted that his priority is to do it hand in hand with Europe. Analysis with Pablo Begnini, academic director of International Relations at the Hemisferios University in Quito.
Zelensky affirms that the change of negotiator by Russia seeks to postpone decisions
The Ukrainian president was surprised by Russia's decision to change the leadership of its negotiating team for peace talks scheduled in Geneva next week. According to him, this measure seeks to postpone any decision.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, he noted that foreign troops would be needed in Ukraine following the signing of a peace deal to deter any future Russian aggression.
The United States has proposed a security guarantee lasting 15 years after the war. Ukraine aims for an agreement of 20 years or more, he added.
Pistorius: NATO depends on the reliability of American commitment
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that the strength of the Atlantic Alliance is also based on the predictability of actions and the reliability of the United States' commitment.
He added that NATO must make sense for all its partners and stressed that not even Washington can act alone without the support of its allies.
The EU warns about the use of food as a strategic weapon
The European Commissioner for Agriculture, Christophe Hansen, warned at the Munich Security Conference that Europe must reduce its external food dependence due to the risk of supply chains being used for geopolitical purposes.
He pointed out that Russia uses cereals as an instrument of power and stressed that any dependence represents a vulnerability for the European Union.
About 200,000 people protest in Munich against the Iranian regime
Around 200,000 protesters gathered in Munich on Saturday afternoon to denounce the Iranian authorities, according to an updated estimate from the local police released to AFP, within the framework of the Security Conference.
Initially, law enforcement had estimated about 80,000 attendees demanding the fall of the Islamic Republic after the repression that quelled a broad wave of protests since the end of December 2025.
Photo:Thilo Schmuelgen, Reuters
'Europe does not want to replace the US nuclear umbrella': Rutte
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said no European country is seeking to replace the US nuclear umbrella, after Germany said it is in talks with France on its nuclear deterrent.
Speaking to the press at the Munich Security Conference, Rutte stressed that any debate in Europe is intended to reinforce collective deterrence, not replace the nuclear protection offered by the United States.
Rutte affirms that Russia suffers 65,000 casualties in two months and that NATO would win in the event of an attack
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated at the Munich Security Conference that Russia has suffered "enormous losses" in Ukraine, with some 65,000 troops in the last two months, and assured that the Alliance is currently strong enough to deter any Russian aggression.
"We will win any confrontation with Russia if they attack us now, and we must ensure that in two, four or six years it will still be that way," he declared.
The son of the former Shah of Iran present on the sidelines of the Security Conference
Also speaking on the podium of the Munich Security Conference, the exiled son of the deposed shah, Reza Pahlavi, estimated that it is “time to put an end to the Islamic Republic” and asked Donald Trump to “help” the Iranian people.
"The Iranian people have heard you say that help is on the way and they trust you. Help them," he said, addressing the American president.
Zelensky criticizes the US for asking for concessions from Ukraine and claims that Russia loses 156 soldiers per kilometer gained
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized in Munich that the United States too often raises the issue of concessions in the context of Ukraine and not Russia, in reference to the negotiations promoted by Washington.
He also regretted that Europe is "practically absent" from the dialogue table, calling it a "big mistake," and warned that weapons development is advancing faster than political decisions aimed at ending the war.
Zelensky also assured that the Russian army is losing 156 soldiers for every square kilometer of Ukrainian territory it manages to capture. Although he stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not seem concerned for now, he maintained that there will come a point when those losses will have an impact, and described the Russian president as a "slave of war."
Zelensky promises to neutralize Shahed drones and denounces that all Ukraine's power plants have been damaged
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in Munich that Ukraine will produce enough interceptor drones to make the Shahed drones used by Russia "irrelevant." He noted that in January alone his country had to defend itself from 6,000 attack drones, most of them Iranian-made, and maintained that the Tehran regime “must be stopped immediately” for the damage it has caused and may continue to cause.
Zelensky also denounced the continuous Russian attacks against the Ukrainian energy infrastructure and assured that there is not a single power plant left that has not been damaged. He stressed that these bombings have left the civilian population exposed to the winter cold without heating, in what he described as a systematic offensive against the country's energy system.
Von der Leyen calls for closer cooperation with the United Kingdom and to activate the EU mutual defense clause
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stated in Munich that Europe and the United Kingdom must strengthen their cooperation on security, the economy and the defense of democracy. Ten years after Brexit, he maintained that the destinies of both parties remain closely linked and that it is necessary to get closer again in the face of current challenges.
Von der Leyen also assured that the time has come to "give life" to the mutual defense clause included in the founding treaties of the European Union. He stressed that collective defense is not optional, but a legal and political obligation, and reiterated the European commitment to act under the principle of “one for all and all for one” in the face of any aggression.
Rubio denies the end of the transatlantic era and affirms that the US wants to “revitalize” its alliance with Europe
Marco Rubio rejected the idea that the transatlantic era is over and affirmed that the United States is not seeking to distance itself from Europe, but rather to strengthen and revitalize a historic alliance based on shared values. He stressed that Washington's intention is to renew ties and consolidate cooperation with its European partners.
The Secretary of State also noted that under Donald Trump's leadership, the US aspires to lead a global "renewal and restoration," driven by a vision of sovereignty and strength. Although he made it clear that his country is willing to act alone if necessary, he insisted that his priority is to do it hand in hand with Europe.
Shaken by Trump, European leaders call for a "strong Europe"
Stung by Trump's claims on Greenland and his often hostile comments toward America's traditional allies, European leaders meeting in Munich have pledged to shoulder more of the burden on NATO's shared defense.
Several leaders have insisted that this is essential for Europe to counter a hostile Russia. NATO chief Mark Rutte said that "a strong Europe in a strong NATO means that the transatlantic bond will be stronger than ever."
“This is the right time for a strong Europe,” declared French President Emmanuel Macron, who stressed Friday that the continent is “clear in its support for Ukraine” and “building its own security architecture.”
Rubio says he "doesn't know" if Russia wants to end the war in Ukraine
The United States will continue to do everything possible to help end the war in Ukraine, the US secretary of state said. He also noted that he “does not know” if Russia wants to end this conflict.
Regarding the new negotiations scheduled for Tuesday, February 17, in Geneva between Americans, Russians and Ukrainians, Marco Rubio indicated that the group of negotiators sent may not be the same.
Rubio denounces in Munich that the UN does not play "any role" in resolving conflicts
"The United Nations still has enormous potential to be a tool at the service of good in the world," declared Marco Rubio.
"But we cannot ignore that today, on the most urgent issues before us, they have no answers and have played virtually no role. They have not been able to resolve the war in Gaza," he said, while US President Donald Trump has launched a "Peace Council" aimed at helping resolve the conflicts.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer urges Europe, the "sleeping giant", to reduce its dependence on the United States
British leader Keir Starmer is expected to describe Europe as “a sleeping giant” that must rely less on the United States for its defense when he speaks later today at the Munich conference.
Starmer's office said the UK prime minister will argue that the continent must move from over-reliance on the United States toward a more European NATO.
“I am talking about a vision of European security and greater European autonomy that does not announce the withdrawal of the United States, but rather responds fully to the call for greater sharing of responsibilities and renews the ties that have served us so well,” Starmer is expected to say.
Ukraine: Woman killed in Russian drone attack in Odessa
Meanwhile, overnight strikes by Russian drones killed a woman in Odessa, southern Ukraine, local authorities said.
According to the head of the military administration, Oleg Kiper, these attacks damaged the roof of a residential building.
In the Zaporizhia region (southern), the head of the regional military administration, Ivan Fedorov, also reported one dead and three wounded in attacks that occurred during the last 24 hours against the regional capital and the town of Pology. He did not specify the circumstances of these attacks.
Welcome to this coverage dedicated to the Munich Security Conference.
With EFE, AFP, Reuters, AP and local media
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