Ukrainian crisis the main topic of the Munich Security Conference

The Conflict over Ukraine and European Security panel: Bulgaria's President Rosen Plevneliev (left), Lithuania's President Dalia Grybauskaite, Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko, Finland's President Sauli Niinistö, and panel moderator Jane Harman, President of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Photo: MSC
The Conflict over Ukraine and European Security panel: Bulgaria’s President Rosen Plevneliev (left), Lithuania’s President Dalia Grybauskaite, Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko, Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö, and panel moderator Jane Harman, President of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Photo: MSC

The Ukrainian crisis and its impacts on European security was the main theme of the Munich Security Conference that President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö attended on 6–8 February. ”The Ukrainian crisis has been a mental shock for all of us. Peace is not a given in Europe,” President Niinistö said, sitting on a panel of four presidents.

In addition to President Niinistö, the panel included Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko, President Dalia Grybauskaitė of Lithuania, and Bulgaria’s President Rosen Plevneliev.

The presidents were asked what they believe Putin’s objectives are in Ukraine. “I’m not sure if anyone is fully aware of what he is after. I do not believe there is a very logical plan; I think the main aim is to destabilise,” said President Niinistö.

“However, I do know what is not good: we must not let Russia violate international legislation and agreements without consequences. But not good is also to totally isolate Russia.”

In Munich, President Niinistö discussed the Ukrainian crisis with President Poroshenko and the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, among others. Chancellor Merkel arrived in Munich directly from Moscow where she met Russian President Vladimir Putin together with the French President Francois Hollande.

President Niinistö believes it is positive that there have now been face-to-face discussions. “Clearly, they do not want to give cause for great optimism. It is also equally clear that nothing has been lost,” he said, at a press conference at the end of the day.

A security policy forum with long traditions

This year, the theme of the Munich Security Conference was the collapse of international order. In addition to the Ukrainian crises, other themes included the situation in the Middle East and the fight against terrorism.

Following his arrival in Munich on Friday evening, President Niinistö held discussions with Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of NATO. Their meeting covered the development of Finland’s partnership with NATO, the regional security situation and responding to the threats of hybrid warfare.

President Niinistö also held discussions with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Alijev on bilateral relations, the Ukrainian crisis and the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Held since 1963, the Munich Security Conference is an independent forum dedicated to promoting peaceful conflict resolution and international cooperation, and dialogue on dealing with current and future security challenges. Over 400 foreign and security policy opinion-formers attended the conference, including around 20 heads of state or government and 60 ministers. The participants included German Chancellor Angela Merkel, US Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Pictures

 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and President Niinistö met in Munich. Photo: Office of the President of the Republic  Wolfgang Ischinger, Chairman of the Munich Security Conference, in dialogue with President Niinistö. Photo: Office of the President of the Republic  In Munich, President Niinistö and Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev discussed relations between the two countries, the Ukrainian crisis and the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. Photo: Office of the President of the Republic
 At the Munich Security Conference: President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, President Sauli Niinistö, Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel and Vice President of the United States Joseph Biden. Photo: Office of the President of the Republic President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö in discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the Munich Security Conference. On the left, German Gref, CEO of Sberbank. Photo: Office of the President of the Republic  The Conflict over Ukraine and European Security panel: Bulgaria's President Rosen Plevneliev (left), Lithuania's President Dalia Grybauskaite, Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko, Finland's President Sauli Niinistö, and panel moderator Jane Harman, President of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Photo: MSC
 ‘However, I do know what is not good: we must not let Russia violate international legislation and agreements without consequences. But not good is also to totally isolate Russia’, President Niinistö said at the panel. Photo: MSC  President Poroshenko, President Niinistö and President Grybauskaite after the Panel discusison. Photo: MSC  President Sauli Niinistö and President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko met at the Munich Security Conference on 7 Feburary. Photo: Office of the President of the Republic
 President Sauli Niinistö and President of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves discussing in Münich on 8 February. Photo: Office of the President of the Republic  President Niinistö met US senators in Munich. Photo: Office of the President of the Republic US Senator John McCain and President Sauli Niinistö. Photo: Office of the President of the Republic