Live from the Munich Security Conference: Europe’s wake-up call

Live from the Munich Security Conference: Europe’s wake-up call

Author: ECFR February 17, 2025 Duration: 38:57

Last week, US president Donald Trump shocked Europeans when he announced the start of peace talks on the war in Ukraine, following a call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Trump’s announcement fuelled fears that peace talks could begin without Ukrainians or Europeans at the table, and result in key concessions to Moscow.


In this episode, recorded live from the Munich Security Conference, Mark Leonard welcomes senior policy fellow Ulrike Franke, distinguished policy fellow Camille Grand, senior policy fellow and director of ECFR’s Asia programme Janka Oertel, and senior policy fellow and head of ECFR’s Berlin office Jana Puglierin. Together, they unpack this year's conference and discuss the state of transatlantic relations and the condition of European security. What do Trump’s plans for peace talks entail for Ukraine? How can Europe secure a role in the negotiations? And what must Europeans do to provide solid security guarantees and secure the continent’s future?


Bookshelf


Ende der China-Illusion by Janka Oertel

Transatlantic twilight: European public opinion and the long shadow of Trump by Jana Puglierin, Arturo Varvelli and Pawel Zerka

The Plot against America by Philip Roth

Es werden schöne Tage kommen by Zach Williams

Die Rückkehr des Krieges by Franz-Stefan Gady

The Age of Unpeace by Mark Leonard


This podcast was recorded during the Munich Security Conference (14-16 February 2024)


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Each week, Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes cuts through the noise of global headlines to explore the deeper forces at play. Curated by Mark Leonard, who directs the European Council on Foreign Relations, this ECFR podcast brings together leading thinkers, policymakers, and analysts from across Europe and the wider world. Their conversations move beyond the day's news to debate the underlying policies, strategic ideas, and geopolitical shifts that are actively shaping our future. The focus is consistently on understanding Europe's place in a complex international landscape, examining how it responds to crises and where it can exercise influence. Recognized for its quality with PolicyLab's 2019 award for best podcast on EU politics, this series delivers concise, substantive dialogue that fits into a busy schedule. As part of the EuroPod network, it offers a vital perspective for anyone looking to grasp not just what is happening, but why it matters. Tune in for a regular dose of informed discussion that connects the dots between events, decisions, and their long-term consequences.
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Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes
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