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End of Ukraine war won't secure peace in Europe: Ischinger

13:55

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December 12, 2025

Wolfgang Ischinger, chairman of the Munich Security Conference, warns ending the Ukraine war would just be the start of Europe's peace efforts. He told DW the new US security strategy poses an "ideological challenge."

The following is an extract from the interview.

Wolfgang Ischinger: As long as this war is being fought [...] Europe is safe, because the Ukrainians have successfully tied down this mighty Russian army for years now in an incredibly sustained fight defending their own country. The moment this war ends, the moment weapons are silent in Donbas etc. and over Ukraine, Russia will have all the time. 

You know, Russia stretches over 10 or 11 time zones. They will have all the time in the world to regroup. Our effort to become capable of defending Europe doesn't end it. It actually starts seriously then. So far, the Ukrainians carry the burden. Once the war ends, we will have to carry a much larger share of that burden.

For more, watch the video above.

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