European officials have expressed criticism towards Vice President Vance following his speech at the Munich Security Conference on Friday. Vance's remarks targeted European allies, accusing them of suppressing free speech, losing control of immigration, and refusing to collaborate with hard-right parties in government.
During his address, Vance emphasized the Trump administration's belief in mediating a resolution between Russia and Ukraine. However, he highlighted his concerns about the 'threat from within' in Europe as the most pressing issue.
Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko described Vance's speech as 'the total humiliation of all European leaders,' emphasizing the absence of mention regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius condemned Vance's statements, labeling them as 'unacceptable.' Pistorius expressed disagreement with Vance's comparison of European conditions to authoritarian regimes and defended the democratic principles in Germany, asserting that all political parties, including the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), have the right to campaign freely.
Pistorius, who is actively involved in campaigning for Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) ahead of the upcoming federal election, emphasized the importance of upholding democratic values and ensuring the plurality of views within the political landscape.
