Donald Trump’s “desire” for Greenland remains “exactly the same”, the Danish prime minister has told the Munich Security Conference.
Mette Frederiksen said she believes the US president remains “very serious” about acquiring the Danish territory and also said she believes Vladimir Putin is not interested in peace in Ukraine.
Earlier at the conference, Britain blamed the Kremlin for killing opposition leader Alexei Navalny, which it said was likely done using a poison developed from a dart frog toxin.
Two years on from the death of Mr Navalny, the UK and its allies have pinned the blame on the Russian state following analysis of material samples found on his body, saying it was likely conducted using a poison developed from a dart frog toxin.
The Kremlin has always denied causing Navalny’s death, but the UK and its allies said that "only the Russian state had the combined means, motive and disregard for international law" to carry out the attack on the Russian opposition leader.
Read MoreTrump savaged for global ‘sweeping destruction’ as crucial Munich Security Conference opens
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Key Points
- Trump's desire for Greenland 'exactly the same', Denmark says
- Full statement from Yulia Navalnaya
- Navalny died ‘after being poisoned with dart frog toxin by Kremlin’
- Zelenksy tells summit: We can stand up to Russia
Watch: Zelenksy appeals to Trump for 'strong security guarantees' before Russia peace deal can be struck
16:53 , Bryony GoochZelensky's says Russia's change of negotiator meant to postpone any decisions
16:34 , Bryony GoochUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday he was surprised that Russia had decided to change the leadership of its negotiating team for peace talks in Geneva next week, a move he said was designed to postpone any decisions.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Zelensky said foreign troops would be needed in Ukraine after a peace deal was reached to deter any future aggressions from Russia.
He said the US had proposed a security guarantee lasting for 15 years after the war, but Ukraine wanted a deal for 20 years or longer.
Recap: British warships to patrol Arctic amid Trump Greenland threats
16:15 , Bryony GoochA group of British warships will patrol the Arctic, Sir Keir Starmer has said, following Donald Trump’s threats to annex Greenland after he cited concerns about its security.
The prime minister announced the British efforts to bolster security in the so-called High North at the Munich Security Conference, and said the US, Canada and other Nato allies would join the initiative.
Sir Keir also announced Britain will seek “deeper economic integration” with the European Union and to “move closer to the single market” in more sectors during his speech.
He insisted the EU-UK “status quo is not fit for purpose”, but he acknowledged there would be “trade-offs” as a result of the move.
German defence minister calls for predictable US partnership
15:43 , Dan HaygarthGerman Defence Minister Boris Pistorius called for a predictable and reliable partnership between the United States and its European partners, which he said had to build up their hard defence capacity.
Responding to Marco Rubio's remarks earlier on Saturday, which criticised many aspects of what the international system had become, Pistorius agreed that institutions needed reform but said the answer could not be for a state to try to go it alone.
Downing Street: Starmer and von der Leyen 'agreed that Europe needs to step up'
15:34 , Dan HaygarthA government spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister met the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in Munich today.
“Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to continue work that will bolster our collective defences in the face of growing threats to European security.
“They agreed that Europe needs to step up and work towards becoming a more European NATO, while protecting our strong transatlantic ties.
“The Prime Minister shared his high ambition for the future UK-EU partnership. He set out his desire for further integration across the economy, defence and technology - in the interests of greater security, stronger growth and higher living standards for the British people. There is no question where the national interest lies and I will always fight for what’s best for the United Kingdom, he added.
“They committed to take forward further work ahead of the next UK-EU summit. They also agreed to double down on the existing negotiations to agree a food and drink deal which could lower prices, an emissions trading scheme which could lower bills, and a youth experience scheme to give our young people more opportunities to work and travel abroad.”
Von der Leyen: 'Now is the time to raise the costs of Russia’s war higher than ever'
15:31 , Dan HaygarthAfter a panel discussion which saw European powers discuss putting more pressure on the Kremlin, the EU Commission president wrote on social media: “Now is the time to raise the costs of Russia’s war higher than ever.
“To bring Putin to the negotiating table with genuine intent. Sanctions work. And they work best when coordinated.
“Europe’s 20th package of sanctions package will further tighten the pressure through measures on energy, financial services, and trade, and by cracking down on sanctions circumvention.
“We propose a full maritime services ban which can further isolate Russia and cut its fossil fuel revenue especially if coordinated closely with our G7 partners and the United States.”
Full statement from Yulia Navalnaya
15:01 , Dan HaygarthAlexei Navalny’s widow said on social media: “Scientists from five European countries have established: my husband, Alexei Navalny, was poisoned with epibatidine — a neurotoxin, one of the deadliest poisons on earth. In nature, this poison can be found on the skin of the Ecuadorian dart frog. It causes paralysis, respiratory arrest, and a painful death.
“I was certain from the first day that my husband had been poisoned, but now there is proof: Putin killed Alexei with chemical weapon.
“I am grateful to the European states for the meticulous work they carried out over two years and for uncovering the truth.
“Vladimir Putin is a murderer. He must be held accountable for all his crimes.”
The Kremlin has always denied causing Navalny’s death, but the UK and its allies said that "only the Russian state had the combined means, motive and disregard for international law" to carry out the attack on the Russian opposition leader.
Putin not interested in peace, Denmark says
14:49 , Dan HaygarthDenmark's Mette Frederiksen says that if Putin “wanted peace, he wouldn’t do what he’s doing these days.”
She says Russia “will not change” and points to attacks on Ukraine energy systems in minus 25 temperatures as proof of a lack of appetite for peace.
“It’s so crazy that only Russians would do such a thing”, she adds.
Demonstration for regime change in Iran held in Munich
14:35 , Dan HaygarthSupporters of Iran's exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi rallied on the sidelines of the conference on Saturday, aiming to crank up international pressure on Tehran.
Banging drums and chanting for regime change, the large and boisterous demonstration in Munich was part of what Pahlavi described as a "global day of action" to support Iranians in the wake of deadly nationwide protests. Pahlavi also called for rallies in Los Angeles and Toronto.
"Change, change, regime change" the crowd chanted, bringing together many thousands of people and waving green-white-and-red flags with lion and sun emblems, which Iran used before its 1979 Islamic Revolution that toppled the Pahlavi dynasty.
Some demonstrators sported "Make Iran Great Again" red caps, mimicking the MAGA caps worn by U.S. President Donald Trump 's supporters. Many waved placards showing Pahlavi, some that called him a king.
The son of Iran's deposed shah has been in exile for nearly 50 years but is trying to position himself as a player in Iran's future.
Trump's desire for Greenland 'exactly the same', Denmark says
14:29 , Dan HaygarthDenmark’s prime minister Mette Frederiksen is asked about Trump’s interest in Greenland and whether it has changed.
She says she believes Trump remains “very serious”, adding: “I think the desire from the US president is exactly the same.”
The president has pushed for the U.S. to acquire Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, since before he returned to the White House. Trump has claimed the country needs Greenland for “national security” purposes, warning that it is threatened by adversaries Russia and China.
Navalny's widow Yulia Navalnaya: 'I was certain from the first day that my husband had been poisoned'
14:00 , Daniel HaygarthScientists from five European countries have established: my husband, Alexei Navalny, was poisoned with epibatidine — a neurotoxin, one of the deadliest poisons on earth. In nature, this poison can be found on the skin of the Ecuadorian dart frog. It causes paralysis, respiratory… pic.twitter.com/doHGgSgzMA
— Yulia Navalnaya (@yulia_navalnaya) February 14, 2026
Joint statement from UK and allies on Alexei Navalny
13:45 , Dan HaygarthThe UK, Sweden, France, Germany and The Netherlands are confident that Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a lethal toxin.
— Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) February 14, 2026
We and our partners will make use of all policy levers at our disposal to continue to hold Russia to account. pic.twitter.com/amXI9bx9cp
Starmer has grasped what his predecessors would not – that Britain is better off in Europe than with the US
13:30 , Dan HaygarthKeir Starmer is announcing a pivot away from America and towards Europe in the most radical shift in British foreign policy for decades – re-setting the UK’s place in a world that will diminish America’s power.
There will be consternation in some quarters of the nation’s armed forces, particularly the Special Forces, but ending the junior partner status of Britain under the US puts an end to the fantasy of the Special Relationship.
Read Sam Kiley’s full analysis: Starmer has grasped what his predecessors would not – that Britain is better off in Europe than with the US
Yvette Cooper met with Mr Navalny’s widow in Munich
13:28 , Dan HaygarthForeign Secretary Yvette Cooper has met with Mr Navalny’s widow Yulia Navalnaya at the Munich Security Conference this weekend.
Mrs Navalnaya announced her husband’s death at the gathering in 2024.
Ms Cooper said: “Since Yulia Navalnaya announced the loss of her husband here in Munich two years ago, the UK has pursued the truth of Alexei Navalny’s death with fierce determination
“Only the Russian Government had the means, motive and opportunity to deploy this lethal toxin against Alexei Navalny during his imprisonment in Russia.
“Today, beside his widow, the UK is shining a light on the Kremlin’s barbaric plot to silence his voice.
“Russia saw Navalny as a threat.
“By using this form of poison the Russian state demonstrated the despicable tools it has at its disposal and the overwhelming fear it has of political opposition.”
BREAKING: Navalny died ‘after being poisoned with dart frog toxin by Kremlin’
13:21 , Dan HaygarthRussian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died after being poisoned with a lethal toxin and Russia is to blame for the attacks, the UK and its allies have said.
The UK, France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands said on Saturday during a press conference at the Munich security conference that analysis of samples from Navalny, who died two years ago, "have conclusively confirmed the presence of epibatidine."
It is a toxin found in poison dart frogs in South America.
It is not clear how the frog poison was allegedly administered to Navalny, who had been in a penal colony in Siberia when he died.
The countries said that "only the Russian state had the combined means, motive and disregard for international law" to carry out the attack.
In pictures: Rubio, Starmer and Zelensky address conference
13:15 , Dan Haygarth Starmer comes out fighting
13:00 , Dan HaygarthAnalysis by Kate Devlin, Whitehall Editor:
After the week from hell on the domestic front, Keir Starmer has come out fighting on the international stage - in more ways than one.
He had a message for Europe - that they had to be “ready to fight” Russia and should open up to greater economic and defence co-operation with the UK.
He rebuked Donald Trump for the President’s remarks that he did not know if the UK and other Nato countries would come to the US’s aid if needed.
He hit out at his party political rivals - Nigel Farage and the Greens - warning they would make the world a more dangerous place with their policies, as he called Reform UK “pro-Putin”.
And he had a message for his political enemies in his own party - that he was now “stronger” after the week’s failed attempt to oust him from office.
Zelensky sweeps aside Donald Trump’s latest ultimatum
12:52 , Dan HaygarthBy Sam Kiley, World Affairs Editor in Kyiv
Volodymyr Zelensky has swept aside Donald Trump’s latest ultimatum to agree to Russian terms on a peace deal for Ukraine.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, the Ukrainian president said that, while he would be happy to hold elections “within two months” of a successful ceasefire underpinned by security guarantees for Kyiv, if that’s what Russia and America wants, he’d also offer a ceasefire to Vladimir Putin if the Russian president agreed to stage fresh ballots in his country.
Addressing the summit, where he was greeted with a long standing ovation and where his speech was frequently interrupted by applause, the Ukrainian president appeared to set little store in the latest round of negotiations expected later this week.
“The Americans often return to the topic of concessions and too often those concessions are discussed in the context only of Ukraine, not Russia. Europe is practically not present at the table,” he said.
“It's a big mistake to my mind and it is, I think, we Ukrainians who are trying to bring Europe fully into the process so that Europe's interests and voice are taken into account.
“This is very important. And Ukraine keeps returning to one simple point. Peace can only be built on clear, clear security guarantees. Where there is no clear security system, war always returns,” he warned.
Putin has come under no military pressure from weapons supplied by the United States to Ukraine in a year since Trump stopped helping the embattled European democracy.
The UN Congress next week will consider a bill that would authorise the sale of Tomahawk missiles for long range attacks inside Russia but a decision on whether to sell them to Europe to pass on to Kyiv rests in the White House.
Nato secretary general Mark Rutte said that such weapons were essential to put real pressure on Putin, who only entered into any negotiation process after Ukraine was able to conduct deep strikes against his strategic oil supplies inside Russia.
Putin, the Ukrainian president said, was a “slave to war” – a view that is now widely shared in Nato outside the US where there is deep concern that while Putin is able to prosecute a war he will do so indefinitely.
It means Russia needs to come under more intense economic and military pressure to force him into concessions that, so far, have only been made by Ukraine.
“Can you imagine Putin without war? Be honest. Right now his focus is on Ukraine and no but he will not let other European nations go either,” Zelensky said.
Zelenksy appeals to Trump for 'strong security guarantees'
12:45 , Dan HaygarthRubio tells Europe Trump expects ‘seriousness and reciprocity’
12:17 , Dan HaygarthMarco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, has sought to mend transatlantic ties at the Munich Security Conference, despite also delivering a stark critique of Western nations’ missteps over the past four decades.
His address earlier on Saturday offered a significant contrast to a blistering attack on America’s European allies made by vice president JD Vance in 2025.
Mr Rubio insisted that the fate of the United States and Europe “will always be intertwined”, stating that Donald Trump “demands seriousness and reciprocity from our friends here in Europe” because “we care deeply about your future and ours”.
However, he also criticised the United Nations and warned that the "rules-based global order" that emerged after the Cold War had been a "dangerous delusion". The conference agenda is dominated by European defence and the future of the transatlantic relationship, particularly as America’s commitment to Nato faces scrutiny.
Read more: Marco Rubio tells Europe Trump expects ‘seriousness and reciprocity’
Zelensky: 'Putin is a slave to war'
12:03 , Dan HaygarthUkraine was being asked "too often" to make concessions, Zelensky says
12:00 , Dan HaygarthZelensky expressed hope US-brokered peace talks next week in Geneva will be serious and substantive, but he voiced concern that Ukraine was being asked "too often" to make concessions.
"We truly hope that the trilateral meetings next week will be serious, substantive, helpful for all us but honestly sometimes it feels like the sides are talking about completely different things," Zelensky said in his speech.
"The Americans often return to the topic of concessions and too often those concessions are discussed only in the context of Ukraine, not Russia."
Zelensky takes aim at Viktor Orban
11:57 , Dan HaygarthZelensky said the Hungarian leader “can think about how to grow his belly” rather than stopping Russian tanks returning to Budapest.
Ukraine is ready for a deal, Zelensky says
11:54 , Dan Haygarth“Ukraine is ready for a deal that brings real peace to us, Ukraine and Europe”, Zelensky said as he closed his speech.
He called for the war to end with “dignity” for his nation, asking for the focus of peace talks to ensure that such a situation is not repeated.
'Can you imagine Putin without war, be honest?'
11:50 , Daniel HaygarthZelensky asks the audience: “"Can you imagine Putin without war, be honest?"
About the Russian leader, he said Putin: “Cannot let go of the idea of war.
“If he lives another 10 years, war can return or expand.”
'We can stand up to Russia'
11:47 , Dan HaygarthZelensky 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.”
Unity is best defence against Russia, Zelensky says
11:30 , Dan HaygarthDiscussing 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.”
Zelensky says Iranian regime must be stopped
11:25 , Daniel HaygarthOn 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.”
Zelensky: 'I want you to understand scale of attacks'
11:20 , Dan HaygarthThe 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.”
Zelensky on stage
11:02 , Daniel HaygarthUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is now on stage in Munich for his address, before a panel discussion.
Keir Starmer to deploy UK warships to the Arctic following Trump’s Greenland threats
10:45 , Dan HaygarthBritish 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
Main takeaways from Starmer's speech
10:42 , Dan HaygarthWhitehall 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.”
Starmer denies he was nearly ‘toppled’ as he attacks Farage's Reform as 'pro-Putin'
10:20 , Daniel HaygarthWhitehall 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.”
WATCH: Starmer warns Europe must be ‘ready to fight to protect its people, values and way of life'
10:18 , Dan HaygarthStarmer takes aim at Reform
10:07 , Dan HaygarthThe 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".
Starmer calls for the UK to economically align more closely with the EU
10:06 , Daniel HaygarthWhitehall editor Kate Devlin reports:
The PM used his speech in Munich to say the UK should more closely align with the EU economically.
He said the UK should “move closer to the single market” in certain markets, where it was in the interest of both sides.
His message comes just months before the tenth anniversary of the Brexit referendum result which took the UK out of the EU.
Starmer hits out at Farage and Greens accusing them of 'division and then capitulation'
09:58 , Dan HaygarthWhitehall editor Kate Devlin reports:
The Labour leader hit out at Reform UK and the Green Party, describing them as “the peddlers of easy answers on the extreme left and the extreme right” and claiming that the future they offer would see “the lamps ... go out across Europe once again”, a reference to the chilling remark made by the then foreign secretary Sir Edward Grey before the First World War.
He said: “It’s striking that the different ends of the spectrum share so much. Soft on Russia and weak on Nato – if not outright opposed. And determined to sacrifice the longstanding relationships that we want and need to build, on the altar of their ideology.
“The future they offer is one of division and then capitulation. The lamps would go out across Europe once again. But we will not let that happen.”
Starmer calls for closer security ties with Europe – and less reliance on Donald Trump’s United States
09:57 , Daniel HaygarthWhitehall editor Kate Devlin reports:
Sir Keir Starmer received a round of applause as he told world leaders that Britain’s “Brexit years” are over and called for closer security ties with Europe – and less reliance on Donald Trump’s United States.
The Prime Minister added: "Because we know that in a dangerous world, we would not take control by turning inward, we would surrender it, and I won't let that happen.
"That's why I devote time as Prime Minister to Britain's leadership on the world stage, and that's why I'm here today, because I am clear there is no British security without Europe and no European security without Britain.
"That is the lesson of history, and is today's reality as well."
Starmer reaffirms commitment to Nato after Trump's doubt
09:49 , Daniel HaygarthSir Keir Starmer insisted the UK would honour the Nato commitment to defend its allies if called upon.
One of the alliance’s founding principles, Article 5, is that an attack on one Nato member is an attack on all.
US president Donald Trump has questioned whether the US’s European partners would answer the call if it were made today.
The prime minister sought to dispel this doubt.
He said: “I am proud that my party fought for Nato’s creation, what our then-foreign secretary Ernie Bevin, called a spiritual union of the West.
“And we’ve shown our fidelity to that ideal, asserting each other’s sovereignty as we did on Greenland, and crucially, coming to each other’s aid under article five, we fought together in Afghanistan at terrible cost to many in my country and across many allied countries.
“So I say to all Nato members, our commitment to article five is as profound now as ever, and be in no doubt, if called on, the UK would come to your aid today.”
UK to deploy carrier strike group to North Atlantic
09:47 , Dan HaygarthUK will deploy a carrier strike group to the North Atlantic and High North region this year, Keir Starmer has announced.
The prime minister told the Munich Security Conference: “I can announce today that the UK will deploy our carrier strike group to the North Atlantic and the High North this year, led by HMS Prince of Wales, operating alongside the US, Canada and other Nato allies in a powerful show of our commitment to Euro-Atlantic security.”
The deployment comes following US President Donald Trump’s assertion earlier this year that he wants to take over Greenland.
Mr Trump has claimed he does not believe Denmark, of which Greenland is a territory, does not do enough to defend it from threats by Russia and China.
European nations rallied to Denmark’s side amid the suggestion the US could annex Greenland.
Starmer says Europe must be ready to fight
09:43 , Dan HaygarthEurope does not seek conflict but must be ready to fight as it faces a growing threat from Russia, Sir Keir Starmer told the conference.
He said: “Now we feel the solidity of peace, the very ground that we stand on softening under our feet.
“It’s the job of leaders to be ahead of these seismic shapes, yet that is against the grain of history.”
He said leaders must not dither as “Russia has proved its appetite for aggression”.
He continued that after a peace deal for Ukraine, “Russia’s rearmament would only accelerate” and “we must answer this threat in full”.
“To break the convention of a thousand speeches, we are not at a crossroads. The road ahead is straight and it is clear. 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.”
Starmer tells Trump “be in no doubt if called on the UK would come to your aid today”
09:42 , Dan HaygarthWhitehall editor Kate Devlin reports:
Keir Starmer had told Donald Trump “be in no doubt if called on the UK would come to your aid today”.
His message was to all Nato members, of which the US is one.
But it will be seen as a pointed rebuke to some of the US President’s comments, in which he questioned if other Nato members would help the US if needed.
Starmer: 'This time must be different'
09:36 , Dan HaygarthThe prime minister began he speech by saying the idea of war has been a remote one for most people, describing it as "something that concerns us deeply, but happens far away.”
However, he adds: “Now we feel the solidity of peace, the very ground that we stand on softening under our feet.
“It’s the job of leaders to be ahead of these seismic shapes, yet that is against the grain of history.”
He said leaders must not dither as “Russia has proved its appetite for aggression”.
He continued that after a peace deal for Ukraine, “Russia’s rearmament would only accelerate” and “we must answer this threat in full”.
“To break the convention of a thousand speeches, we are not at a crossroads. The road ahead is straight and it is clear. 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.”
Starmer gets round of applause as he says Britain has changed
09:33 , Dan HaygarthSir Keir Starmer received applause at the Munich Security Conference when he said: “We are not the Britain of the Brexit years anymore.”
The Prime Minister added: “Because we know that in a dangerous world, we would not take control by turning inward, we would surrender it, and I won’t let that happen.
“That’s why I devote time as Prime Minister to Britain’s leadership on the world stage, and that’s why I’m here today, because I am clear there is no British security without Europe and no European security without Britain.
“That is the lesson of history, and is today’s reality as well.”
Sir Keir Starmer is making his address
09:26 , Daniel HaygarthThe prime minister’s speech has begun, slightly later than expected.
Europe must relinquish its over-dependence on the United States, Sir Keir is to tell a summit grappling with antagonism from Donald Trump.
Rubio suggested West had been complacent since Cold War ended
09:21 , Daniel HaygarthHe told the conference: “The euphoria of this triumph led us to a dangerous delusion that we had entered, quote, The End of History, that every nation would now be a liberal democracy, that the ties formed by trade and by commerce alone would now replace nationhood, that the rules-based global order – an overused term – would now replace the national interest, and that we would now live in a world without borders, where everyone became a citizen of the world.”
US and Europe's fates will 'always be intertwined', Rubio says
09:20 , Daniel HaygarthIn his speech, Rubio insisted the fate of the United States and Europe “will always be intertwined”, as he said that Donald Trump “demands seriousness and reciprocity from our friends here in Europe” because “we care deeply about your future and ours”.
He also, however, hit out at the United Nations, and warned that the “rules-based global order” which grew out of the end of the Cold War had been a “dangerous delusion”.
Rubio: Not possible for Russia to achieve initial aims in Ukraine
09:16 , Dan HaygarthRubio said he does not think it is possible for Russia to achieve what its initial objectives were at the start of the war.
On the effort to end the conflict, he said: “It’s an obligation that we won’t walk away from.”
Analysis: Rubio gave a more respectful speech than JD Vance - but the motifs remained the same
09:05 , Dan HaygarthAnalysis by Sam Kiley in Kyiv:
Marco Rubio gave a rallying cry for western unity and an alliance to resist “civilisational erasure” as Europe pivots away from American leadership at the Munich Security Conference.
He drew a standing ovation after insisting that the shared colours and heritage of the old and new worlds were intrinsic to the future security of the western hemisphere. But there was a string sense image the applause he got was for not being JD Vance, the US vice president.
Donald Trump’s Secretary of State gave a more respectful and nuanced apparently pro-European speech compared to the vulgarity and disrespect shown by Vance in the same forum last year.
But the motifs remained the same. America can do this alone, it doesn’t want to but it can and will - if necessary. Colonialism has a bad rap. The West must stand together to fight off waves of immigration to will wipe it out. Climate change is a cult and the UN is useless.
None of these views is shared by any government in Europe, save Hungary, share these views which are, however, high on the agenda of the region’s far right populist parties.
Immigration is an urgent threat to the fabric of our societies and survival of our civilisation itself, he said.
Signing up to more of a future led my America quills mean accepting Trump’s view of the world in which international law was subordinated to national agendas and he warned “we are prepared to do this alone”.
What to expect from Munich today
09:02 , Dan HaygarthUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio has finished his address. Tony Blair is also speaking at the conference this morning.
He will be followed by Sir Keir Starmer and Ursula von der Leyen. Sir Keir is expected to speak after 9am.
In his speech to the summit, the Prime Minister will call for a more European defence alliance and greater autonomy for the continent.
Sir Keir will say that this should be underpinned by stronger ties between Britain and the EU.
He is expected to say: “We are not the Britain of the Brexit years anymore.
“Because we know that, in dangerous times, we would not take control by turning inward – we would surrender it. And I won’t let that happen.
“There is no British security without Europe, and no European security without Britain. That is the lesson of history – and it is today’s reality too.”
Volodymyr Zelensky and Mark Rutte are expected to speak at 11:45am.
Marco Rubio warns European leaders against ‘malaise of hopelessness and complacency’ in wide-ranging attack in Munich
08:58 , Dan HaygarthWhitehall editor Kate Devlin reports:
Rubio has used his speech in Munich to issue a warning to European leaders on defence, welfare, climate change and a host other issues.
As he told them America had no interest in being caretakers of the West’s managed decline, he also hit out at what he said was a “malaise of hopelessness and complacency”.
He criticised countries he said had not spent enough on defence, had spent too much on welfare, had appeased a climate 'cult' to their own economic detriment, had allowed too much immigration and had not defended their history.
He also warned that decline was a “choice” that previous Western leaders had refused to make.
Last year US vice-president JD Vance stunned delegates in Munich by warning Europe the greatest peril facing the continent was not Russia or China but “the threat from within”.
Rubio’s message may have been draped in more diplomatic language, but it was equally designed to make Europe sit up and take notice.
Keir Starmer to speak at 9am
08:50 , Dan HaygarthEurope must relinquish its overdependence on the United States, Sir Keir Starmer is to tell the summit grappling with antagonism from President Donald Trump.
The Prime Minister will also argue for the UK to move closer to the European Union, saying turning inwards such as in the Brexit years would amount to a “surrender” of control in a perilous era for geopolitics.
He will address the room at 9am.
'The fate of Europe will never be irrelevant to our own'
08:42 , Dan Haygarth“We want Europe to be strong”, Mr Rubio told the conference.
“We believe that Europe must survive because the two great wars of the last century serve for us as history’s constant reminder that, ultimately, our destiny is and will always be intertwined with yours.
“Because we know that the fate of Europe will never be irrelevant to our own.”
Rubio said he does not want Europe to be 'weak'
08:39 , Daniel HaygarthRubio told the conference: “We do not want our allies to be weak, because that makes us weaker.
“We want allies who can defend themselves, so that no adversary will ever be tempted to test our collective strength. This is why we do not want our allies to be shackled by guilt and shame.
“We want allies who are proud of their culture and of their heritage, who understand that we are heirs to the same great and noble civilisation, and who together with us are willing and able to defend it.
“And this is why we do not want allies to rationalise the broken status quo, rather than reckon with what is necessary to fix it. For we in America have no interest in being polite and orderly caretakers of the West’s managed decline.
“We do not seek to separate but to revitalise an old friendship and renew the greatest civilisation in human history.”
Rubio: UN has 'no answers to most pressing matters'
08:33 , Dan HaygarthRubio: 'We made these mistakes together'
08:28 , Dan HaygarthMr Rubio acknowledged that “we made these mistakes together, and now together, we owe it to our people to face those facts and to move forward to rebuild”.
He added: “Under President Trump, the United States of America will once again take on the task of renewal and restoration, driven by a vision of a future as proud, as sovereign and as vital as our civilization’s past.
“And while we are prepared, if necessary, to do this alone, it is our preference, and it is our hope to do this together with you, our friends here in Europe.”
Rubio warns against 'managed decline of the west'
08:25 , Dan HaygarthThe US Secretary of State hit out at a “dangerous delusion” that every country has followed the international rules-based order and freed trade since the end of the Cold War, and criticised the “overused” phrase “the end of history”.
Rubio said that “decline is a choice”, adding: “For we in America have no interest in being polite and orderly caretakers of the west’s managed decline.”
He tells the conference: “We do not want our allies to be weak, because that makes us weaker.
“We want allies who can defend themselves, so that no adversary will ever be tempted to test our collective strength.
“This is why we do not want our allies to be shackled by guilt and shame.”
Rubio warns leaders at Munich they need to ‘build a new Western century’
08:22 , Dan HaygarthWhitehall editor Kate Devlin reports:
Rubio has warned at the Munich Security Conference that European leaders need to join with the US to “build a new Western century”.
He hit out at countries which he said had allowed mass migration and a climate change “cult” to affect their economic and defence capabilities.
He also called on global institutions like the UN to be reformed and rebuilt, saying they could not could not solve the war in Gaza or Ukraine.
'Europe must survive'
08:16 , Dan HaygarthThe US and Europe “belong together”, Marco Rubio tells the conference.
“Europe must survive”, he says.
“Our destiny will always be intertwined with yours.”