Zelenskyy, Scholz and Macron open Munich Security Conference

The annual Munich Security Conference (MSC) began on Friday against the backdrop of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which is top of the agenda at this year's high-level meeting.

Over the course of the next few days, representatives from 96 countries are set to discuss key issues of defense, reports DW.

'No alternative to Ukrainian victory' — Zelenskyy

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made the opening address by videolink and urged allies to speed up support for his country, warning that lives were hanging in the balance.

"We need to hurry up. We need speed — speed of our agreements, speed of our delivery... speed of decisions to limit Russian potential. There is no alternative to speed because it is the speed that the life depends on," Zelenskyy told those gathered, stressing there was "no alternative to a Ukrainian victory."

Zelenskyy likened the battle against Russia's invasion to the biblical fight between David and Goliath and said that while Ukraine had David's courage, it still needed the sling with which to defeat "the Russian Goliath."

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told the conference that Putin's "revisionism" would not prevail and called on allies who were in a position to do so, to send battle tanks to Ukraine.

"Those who can send such battle tanks should really do so now," Scholz said.

In January, Germany approved the export of Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine from its own stocks as well as from third-party allies.

The German chancellor said that his country would provide support with training, supplies and logistics.

In a sentiment shared by other speakers, Scholz was of the opinion that there war in Ukraine would not be over soon. 

"I think it's wise to prepare for a long war," Scholz told the conference.

'Not the time for dialogue' — Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron took the podium after the German leader and said there needed to be readiness for "prolonged conflict" in Ukraine, while calling on EU members to invest substantially in defense spending.

"We absolutely need to intensify our support and our effort to the resistance of the Ukrainian people and its army and help them to launch a counter-offensive which alone can allow credible negotiations, determined by Ukraine, its authorities and its people", Macron said

The French president also said that it was not the time to attempt dialogue with Russia as it ramped up hostilities in the east of Ukraine.

"It is not the time for dialogue because we have a Russia which has chosen war, which has chosen to intensify the war, and which has chosen to go as far as committing war crimes and to attacking civilian infrastructures," Macron said.