This year’s Valentine’s Day wasn’t about love and unity—at least not in the political world. Instead, it became a stage for controversy, as U.S. Vice President JD Vance delivered a fiery speech at the 61st Munich Security Conference, criticizing European nations for their handling of democracy. But the real irony? His lecture came from a representative of a country that has, for decades, meddled in global politics under the guise of promoting democratic values.
With a tone dripping in self-righteousness, Vance singled out European governments for supposedly failing to uphold democratic principles. He pointed to Romania’s 2024 election as an example, condemning efforts to block far-right ultranationalists from gaining power. According to Vance, the U.S. had long believed its financial and military support for foreign nations was purely in service of democracy. Of course, anyone familiar with history knows that American foreign policy often serves self-interest rather than selfless idealism.
While Vance preached about free speech and warned Europe about the “threat from within,” his colleagues were pushing a different narrative. Fox News’ Pete Hegseth suggested that only Ukraine—not Russia—should be making concessions to end the war. Meanwhile, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, asserted that Europe wouldn’t have a seat at the negotiating table. And then there was Trump himself, reportedly demanding half a trillion dollars in Ukrainian resources as a price for continued U.S. support—an offer that President Zelenskyy swiftly rejected.
Despite claims that the U.S. has been Ukraine’s biggest financial supporter, the numbers tell a different story. European nations, collectively, have provided the most aid to the war-torn country. And while Trump’s camp is busy making backroom deals, secretive U.S.-Russia peace talks took place in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 18—without inviting Ukraine or any European representatives.
Unsurprisingly, Vance’s remarks ignited a strong response. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius immediately took the stage after him and dismissed his comments as “unacceptable,” earning a thunderous round of applause. If there’s one thing European leaders can agree on, it’s pushing back against an arrogant American politician acting like he owns the global stage.
France wasted no time reacting. President Emmanuel Macron swiftly convened an emergency meeting in Paris, where European leaders reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine. Across social media, officials posted messages of support for Zelenskyy, emphasizing the need for Europe to strengthen its own defense capabilities. And these weren’t just words—new aid packages for Ukraine quickly followed. Zelenskyy himself expressed gratitude, saying, “Europe has not lost faith in Ukraine or the prospect of lasting peace.”
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof stressed the importance of urgency, a sentiment echoed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reinforced his support for Ukraine joining the EU, a move opposed by Russia but widely backed by Ukrainians.
After the emergency assembly, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez summed up Europe’s stance: “The talks for peace in Ukraine represent an opportunity. But they must not lead to a false closure. The goal must be to achieve a just and lasting peace.” Macron later posted about speaking with both the Ukrainian and American presidents, while Zelenskyy emphasized that security guarantees must be strong, warning that anything less could set the stage for another Russian war.
So, while JD Vance refuses to even acknowledge Trump’s 2020 election loss, the European leaders he scolded are taking decisive action against real threats to democracy. Perhaps it’s too much to expect a politician who openly undermined the U.S. judicial system to understand what democratic integrity actually looks like.