The Chairman of the Munich Security Conference, Wolfgang Ischinger, has the Absence of Russian government representatives from the Munich Security Conference described as a mistake. Hundreds of decision-makers at the conference would very much regret “that Russia does not stand up,” said Ischinger on Friday in the ARD “Morgenmagazin”.
Personally, he can understand that the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov this time does not see participation as “exactly subject to entertainment tax”. But experienced people from Russia would come, Ischinger assured. The main topic at the conference in Munich, which will run from Friday to Sunday, will be: “What is actually necessary for the Russian side to finally give up this threat scenario along the Ukrainian border and return to the diplomatic negotiating table?”
Ischinger described the Russian security concerns as “far-fetched”, because NATO has not taken a step toward further eastward expansion towards the Russian border for 18 years. “Why is this thing so high after 18 years? Ukraine’s NATO membership is not up for debate.”
Behind this is the deeper Russian desire to restore a situation in which Russia is surrounded by subordinate countries that should “renounce their full independence”. “Of course that’s not possible,” said Ischinger. “Here in Munich, we want to get together and say that every European state must be able to determine its own destiny. And without threatening others.” He added: “Nobody threatens Russia.”