James Vance did not bring any recipes for Ukraine to Munich

The US vice president instead took aim at Europe’s retreat from “fundamental values” in an excoriating speech.

Munich, Germany – US Vice President JD Vance launched a full-frontal attack on Friday against Europe's retreat from "fundamental values", while offering little insight into Donald Trump's plans for Ukraine peace talks.

"The threat that I worry the most about vis-a-vis Europe is not Russia, it's not China, it's not any other external actor," Vance said in his widely-anticipated speech at the Munich Security Conference.

"What I worry about is the threat from within – the retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values, values shared with the United States of America."

The speech lacked any substance on external security threats to Europe, and offered little elaboration on the dramatic events instigated by the US over the last two days.

President Donald Trump's revelation on Wednesday that he and Vladimir Putin would "immediately" enter peace talks over the war in Ukraine had left Europeans stunned. Both the EU and Ukraine fear they might sidelined in a future deal, and that any agreement would be too favourable to Russia.

But to the shock of many in the audience, Vance largely avoided all mention of Ukraine.

"The Trump administration is very concerned with European security and believes that we can come to a reasonable settlement between Russia and Ukraine," Vance managed to say.

Vance also slammed Europe’s regulation of big tech as harming free speech, and attributed a series of high-profile attacks in Germany, Sweden and the UK to "woke" migration policies.

"In Britain and across Europe, free speech, I fear, is in retreat," he said.

Vance also implied that remarks made last month by ex-commissioner Thierry Breton – a former sparring partner of Vance’s colleague Elon Musk – showed Europe's anti-democratic streak. Breton's comments pertained to the anullment of Romania's presidential election amid alleged Russian interference.

“He warned that if things don't go to plan the very same thing could happen in Germany, too,” Vance said, adding that such statements are "shocking to American ears." Germany's federal election takes place next Sunday.

Before heading to Munich, Vance told the Wall Street Journal Washington would have "economic and military tools of leverage" should Russia not agree to a satisfactory peace deal with Ukraine.
A meeting between the US delegation, led by Vance, and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to take place on the margins in Munich on Friday late afternoon.

It remained unclear whether US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was due to take part in the talks, would make it to Munich on time after his plane was forced to return to Washington due to technical problems.

Europeans have attempted to convince Trump that they are doing their part in NATO and are meeting their fair share of defence spending.