Munich security conference live: Zelensky joins Starmer in plea for European ‘unity’ to stop Russia

The Ukrainian president said ‘unity’ is the best ‘interceptor against Russia's aggressive plans’

Starmer warns Europe must be ‘ready to fight to protect its people, values and way of life'

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia fired 6,000 attack drones in January as he told the Munich Security Conference that European “unity” was his country’s best defence.

“I want you to understand the real scale of these attacks on Ukraine”, he told world leaders gathered at the summit.

Pointing to a chart displaying statistics from January, he said Ukraine had: “To defend against 6000 attack drones, most of them were Shahid drones, and 150 plus Russian missiles of different types, and more than 5000 glide bombs.

“And it’s like these every month. Imagine this over your own city.”

Europe must be ready to fight as it faces a growing threat from Russia, Sir Keir Starmer earlier told the conference.

He said leaders must not dither as “Russia has proved its appetite for aggression”.

He told the hall: “We must build our hard power, because that is the currency of the age.

“We must be able to deter aggression , and, yes, if necessary, we must be ready to fight.”

Key Points

• What to expect from Munich today
• Starmer tells Trump 'be in no doubt if called on the UK would come to your aid today'
• Starmer calls for closer security ties with Europe – and less reliance on Donald Trump’s United States
• Analysis: Rubio gave a more respectful speech than JD Vance - but the motifs remained the same
• Rubio skips Ukraine meeting with European leaders at Munich conference

[14 February 2026 11:47 · Dan Haygarth]

'We can stand up to Russia'

Zelensky has called on leaders to stand up to Russia.

He says: “The stronger we are, the more realistic peace becomes”, and tells the room that Putin and Russia “must not be given any hope it can get away with this crime.”

He tells leaders: “We can stand up to Russia.”

[14 February 2026 11:30 · Dan Haygarth]

Unity is best defence against Russia, Zelensky says

Discussing the defence of Ukraine, Zelensky tells the hall: “That is why while we invest in interceptors and protection, Russia invests in breaking unity between all of us, our unity with you, unity in Europe, unity in the Euro-Atlantic community, they want to break it.

“Why? Because our unity is the best interceptor against Russia’s aggressive plans – the best one – and we still have it.”

[14 February 2026 11:25 · Daniel Haygarth]

Zelensky says Iranian regime must be stopped

On the situation in Iran, where demonstrations against the regime continue, he says: “The Iranian regime has already done and can still do more harm than many other regimes could do in the century.

He adds: “When they have time, they only kill more. They must be stopped immediately.”

[14 February 2026 11:20 · Dan Haygarth]

Zelensky: 'I want you to understand scale of attacks'

The Ukrainian president began his speech talking about the importance of air defence.

He then told the conference: “I want you to understand the real scale of these attacks on Ukraine.”

He said in January it faced 6000 attack drones and more than 150 missiles, as well as more than 5000 glide bombs.

“And it’s like these every month”, he added.

“Imagine this over your own city. Shattered streets, destroyed homes, schools built underground.

“And this is daily life in Ukraine because of Russia.”

[14 February 2026 11:02 · Daniel Haygarth]

Zelensky on stage

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is now on stage in Munich for his address, before a panel discussion.

[14 February 2026 10:45 · Dan Haygarth]

Keir Starmer to deploy UK warships to the Arctic following Trump’s Greenland threats

British warships are set to patrol the Arctic, Sir Keir Starmer announced, a move prompted by Donald Trump’s previous threats to annex Greenland over security concerns. The Labour leader unveiled the initiative at the Munich Security Conference, stating that the US, Canada, and other Nato allies would join Britain in bolstering security across the High North.

During his address, Sir Keir also outlined plans for Britain to pursue "deeper economic integration" with the European Union, aiming to "move closer to the single market" in various sectors. He asserted that the current EU-UK "status quo is not fit for purpose," acknowledging that such a shift would entail "trade-offs."

Read more: Keir Starmer to deploy UK warships to the Arctic following Trump’s Greenland threats

[14 February 2026 10:42 · Dan Haygarth]

Main takeaways from Starmer's speech

Whitehall editor Kate Devlin reports:

In a wide-ranging speech and Q&A session at the Munich security conference Keir Starmer touched on everything from deploying UK warships to last week’s attempts to oust him as prime minister and Brexit.Here are the key things he said:

• Europe “must be ready to fight” as it faces a growing threat from Russia.
• Trump should “be in no doubt - if called on the UK would come to your aid today”.
• A group of British warships will patrol the Arctic following Trump's threats to annex Greenland.
• The UK should economically align more closely with the EU.
• "We are not the Britain of the Brexit years anymore” and must co-operate on more with Europe, and rely less on the US, on defence.
• Attacked Reform as "pro-Putin" as he accused Farage’s party and the Greens of “division and then capitulation” that would see the “the lamps go out across Europe once again”
• Denied he “narrowly missed” being toppled and said he ended this week “much stronger than I started it, and that's a very good place to be.”

[14 February 2026 10:20 · Daniel Haygarth]

Starmer denies he was nearly ‘toppled’ as he attacks Farage's Reform as 'pro-Putin'

Whitehall editor Kate Devlin reports:

The Labour leader denied he was almost forced from office this week as he attacked Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party as pro-Putin.

Asked if he had “narrowly missed” being toppled, after the leader of Scottish Labour called on him to resign, he said: "No, I reject that. I ended the week much stronger than I started it, and that's a very good place to be.”

He said his party and his government were completely united on the question of Ukraine and defence and security and the need for stronger relations with Europe on these issues.

He also hit out at Mr Farage’s party saying: “Reform have a different agenda, they are pro Putin. We know where they stand. Imagine if they were in government in the United Kingdom… We would not be seen as a leader on the European or international stage. We would be seen as a country that people couldn't do business with.”

[14 February 2026 10:18 · Dan Haygarth]

WATCH: Starmer warns Europe must be ‘ready to fight to protect its people, values and way of life'

[14 February 2026 10:07 · Dan Haygarth]

Starmer takes aim at Reform

The prime minister says on stage that Reform is "pro-Putin" and we "would be seen as a country that people could not do business with".