Ukraine Leaves Munich Empty-Handed: German Media Assess Security Conference Outcome

Ukraine did not obtain the results it sought at the Munich Security Conference held last weekend, wrote Christopher Ziedler, a commentator for Der Tagesspiegel. Symbolic Award Becomes the Only Tangible Result Ziedler evaluated the conference outcome for Kyiv through the prism of the symbolic presentation of the Ewald von Kleist Award to the Ukrainian people. The award recognized "courage, readiness for self-sacrifice, and determination to defend their freedom, as well as the freedom of Europe,” as stated in the citation. President Volodymyr Zelensky personally accepted the prize. According to Ziedler, however, the award became Ukraine's only concrete result from the conference. Zelensky, he wrote, "almost pleaded” for additional weapons and support.