As of: February 14, 2024, 11:12 p.m
By: Simon Schröder
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The world's simmering sources of conflict mean that this year's security conference in Munich is impressive in its size.
It's not just the Ukraine war that will be an issue.
Munich – The rumors about a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj to this year's security conference in Munich are becoming more intense.
Especially in view of a possible blockage of the US aid package for Kiev, Europe's role in the Ukraine war could become even more important.
This year, from February 16th to 18th, heads of government and representatives from all over the world will come to Munich to discuss the war in Ukraine and the like.
The 60th anniversary of the conference at the Bayerischer Hof Hotel is overshadowed by the current conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
There is a debate in the USA about releasing additional billions for Ukraine.
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, we are dependent on allies like the USA.
© Michael Kappeler/dpa
Zelenskyj confirmed as a guest at Munich Siko: An invitation has been extended
Although there is not yet an official list of participants in the security conference, according to the event leader, Dr.
Christoph Heusgen, extended an invitation to Zelenskyj.
Information available to
Tagesspiegel
confirmed the president's visit last week.
For security reasons, the exact details and procedure of the visit are not yet known.
In 2023, the 46-year-old was only connected via video chat.
High-ranking politicians are expected again at the Munich Siko in 2024.
In 2023, Olaf Scholz, Kamala Harris and (see photo) Emanuel Macron, among others, arrived.
© picture alliance/dpa |
Felix Hörhager
Zelenskyj in Germany for the second time since the start of the Ukraine war
There were also confirmations from the Ukrainian side that the president would attend this year's conference.
As quoted by the
New York Times
, Zelensky announced that “Ukraine will present its vision for this year.
A crucial year in many ways.”
The Ukrainian president's visit is only the second to Germany since the Russian invasion began.
The importance of Germany in supporting Kiev could become more important given the growing discontent among US Republicans.
Zelensky will have to vie for support from the US House of Representatives
Germany is already the second largest supplier of weapons and ammunition to Kiev after the USA.
If the planned aid package for Ukraine is rejected by the Republicans in the US House of Representatives, things would look bleak for Zelensky.
Germany had already negotiated bilateral security guarantees with Ukraine after the NATO summit in Vilnius in July last year.
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The numerous hot spots of conflict in the world also mean that this year's security conference has more guests than ever before.
Given the abundance of presidents and representatives from all over the world, a large number of demonstrations are also expected.
So far, around 20 meetings have been registered, as police deputy Michael Dibowski announced at a media conference on Tuesday.
The police presence of 5,000 officers is a record number this year.
A preliminary list of guests in attendance was first published on
TableMedia
.
Here is an overview of some of the most important players.
These are the guests at the Munich Security Conference 2024
Volodymyr Zelenskyj, the Ukrainian President, will be present at the Siko again this year.
Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany
Annalena Baerbock, Foreign Minister of Germany
Friedrich Merz, CDU leader and opposition leader in the German Bundestag
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission
Emmanuel Macron, President of France
Alexander De Croo, Prime Minister of Belgium
David Cameron, British Foreign Secretary
Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands
Evika Silina, President of Latvia
Aleksandar Vučić, President of Serbia
Andrej Plenković, Prime Minister of Croatia
Salome Zourabichvili, President of Gerogien
Yitzhak Herzog, President of Israel
Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Prime Minister of Qatar
Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Thabet Saeed Al-Abasi, Minister of Defense of Iraq
Bernardo Arevalo, President of Guatemala
Whang Zhen, former vice president of China
Wang Huiyao, President Center for China and Globalization
Nana Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana
Kamala Harris, Vice President of the USA
Hillary Clinton, former Democratic presidential candidate
Lindsey Graham, Republican Senator from South Carolina
Michael Ray Turner, Republican representative in the US House of Representatives
In addition to the conflicts in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine, the conflict in the Horn of Africa, climate change, NATO, artificial intelligence and many other topics are also covered.
Similar to last year's security conference, no Russian representatives were invited this time.