On the second day of the annual Munich Security Conference, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said there was "no indication" that Vladimir Putin "has changed his ambitions" and Kyiv's Western allies again urged governments to give Ukraine what it needs to defeat Russia.
Stoltenberg warned that Moscow could win the war as the anniversary of the start of the war approaches (February 24). Meanwhile, Washington stated that it has been "formally" established that Russia has committed "crimes against humanity" in Ukraine.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed Stoltenberg's words: "We must continue the very massive support needed to defeat Putin's imperialist plans. It is time to accelerate because Ukraine needs materials to survive."
Delivering supplies urgently
Nearly a year after the Russian president launched the war, there is no sign of appeasement on the front and NATO fears another major offensive from Moscow soon. One of the problems for Kyiv is the supply of ammunition. The EU hopes to do more on this front, with von der Leyen stating "It is not possible to wait months, years" to resupply Kyiv. It plans for joint purchases, in a similar vein to the bloc's group procurement of Covid-19 vaccines.
Estonia proposed that Member States contribute €4 billion to the European Peace Facility (EPF) to buy one million 155mm shells, according to diplomatic sources. The proposal is expected to be discussed by foreign ministers on Monday.
In what would potentially be a decisive shift in the intensity of the conflict, Polish Prime Minister Morawiecki stated that his country is ready to support Ukraine with its MiG fighter jets, but only if a broader coalition is formed with the United States as a leader: "We are ready for that... but Poland can only be a part of a much larger coalition, with the United States as a leader."
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In her speech to the conference, US Vice President Kamala Harris said that "the United States has formally established that Russia has committed crimes against humanity in Ukraine". This is the first time that Washington has openly accused Moscow of such acts since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Harris gave a chilling list of abuses attributed to Russia, citing systematic bombings targeting civilians and critical infrastructure, torture and rape attributed to Russian soldiers, deportations of Ukrainians to Russia, including thousands of children separated from their families.
"We've looked at the evidence, we know the legal standards, and there's no question: these are crimes against humanity," she said in a speech. "And I say to all those who perpetrated these crimes and to their superiors or accomplices in these crimes: you will be held accountable."
