The three-day global gathering in the Bavarian capital has attracted a host of senior Western officials, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, US Vice President Kamala Harris, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, with Volodymyr Zelensky speaking via video link to the opening ceremony of the event.
On Saturday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak urged western leaders gathered in Munich to maintain their support for Kyiv.
In his speech, Mr Sunak said: "Ukraine needs more artillery, armoured vehicles and air defences, so now is the time to double down” on military support.
The British leader offered help to countries willing to send aircraft to Ukraine, adding that the UK is currently training Ukrainian pilots to ensure Kyiv is able to "defend its security for the long term."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also expressed the importance of "stepping up" support for Ukraine, referring to warnings from Kyiv that its forces need more supplies quickly.
Von der Leyen said that the European Union is exploring ways in which the bloc’s members could jointly purchase munitions to help Ukraine.
US Vice President Kamala Harris announced the findings of a legal analysis, led by the US Department of State, on Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
The Biden administration formally determined that Russia has committed "crimes against humanity" during its nearly year-long invasion of Ukraine, Harris said on Saturday.
Earlier, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told the Munich Security Conference that Ukraine must be given "what they need to win and prevail as a sovereign, independent nation in Europe."
Ukraine's foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said he was certain that the country would eventually receive fighter jets from allies to help it fend off the Russian invasion, speaking to reporters at the Munich Security Conference, according to Reuters.
"I will take a risk of saying that Ukraine will receive planes, it's a matter of time and procedure," Kuleba said on Saturday.
The 59th edition of the Munich Security Conference takes place this weekend, February 17-19, in Munich, Germany.
Saturday was day 360 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Source: PAP, Reuters
