The Ukrainian proxy war against Russia will be the key topic at the Feb. 17-19 Munich Security Conference which begins today. The 59th forum will bring together several hundred politicians from around the world, heads of leading international organizations, representatives of business and scientific circles and experts from 96 countries. This year Russian officials have not been invited, for the first time in more than 20 years. Nor have any Iranian officials been invited. Instead, representatives of Russia’s civil society will come to Munich. In this respect, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said that the Munich Security Conference had been completely degraded, as its organizers did not invite Russian officials for fear of hearing the truth.
Roughly 45 heads of state and government, and around 90 ministers are expected to arrive in Munich. The United States will be presented by Vice-President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, with various congressmen and senators. The German delegation, headed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, will include Economic Minister Robert Habeck, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, and other cabinet members.
