Where European allies stand on potential peace talks between Trump and Putin 02:39. Vice President JD Vance hammered home the United States demand that the NATO alliance step up d

The Munich conference exposed tensions between the US and Europe over Nato and Ukraine - the BBC's Frank Gardner explains why this was a watershed in relations.

President JD Vance, right, shakes hands with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025.

Senate Armed Services Chair Senator Roger Wicker torched Pete Hegseth ’s speeches at the NATO conference in Munich this week, calling it a “rookie mistake” to tell the summit—and the world—that it would be “unrealistic” for Ukraine to return to its prewar borders.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the 61st Munich Security Conference on Feb. 15 in Munich, Germany. Photo: Sean Gallup/)

Europe is confronting an “existential” moment in its history, foreign ministers told a CNBC-moderated panel at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has done more to strengthen and unite NATO that member states, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham told the Munich Security Conference.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the United States, including the Biden administration, never saw Ukraine as a NATO member. Zelenskyy spoke Friday to the Munich Security Conference. He is

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, second right, speaks as he participates in a panel discussion during the Munich Security Conference at the Bayerischer Hof Hotel in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Feb.

In Germany, Vice President JD Vance spoke at the Munich Security Conference. He told NATO allies that Europe’s biggest security threat is not Russia or China, but themselves.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said while speaking at the Munich Security Conference that he told President Donald Trump that Russian President Vladimir Putin was afraid of him. NBC News' Courtney Kube also reports on Zelenskyy's calls for an army in Europe separate from NATO that would be not reliant on the U.

US Vice President JD Vance on Friday met with Britain's foreign secretary, Germany's president and NATO's Secretary-General on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.