First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Vesna Pusić attended the 51st Munich Security Conference (MSC), held 6-8 February and dedicated exclusively to the situation in Ukraine, relations with Russia and the new initiative by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande for a peaceful and democratic solution to the dramatic situation in Ukraine.
“I think that at this moment it’s not possible to talk in the full sense about a peaceful solution for Ukraine because there is a war in Ukraine. The question is how to end this war as soon as possible and find a solution that will lead to peace and stabilisation in Ukraine,” Pusić said, adding that representatives of the US Congress, and not so much of the US executive authority, pushed for helping Ukraine with weapons, while Europeans were more inclined towards solving the dispute through diplomatic channels. “Croatia participated within FAC in formulating a position that the crisis can be solved diplomatically and we are actively taking part in it,” Pusić said.
The sanctions against Russia are not aimed at Russia's economic implosion but at calming the situation in Ukraine, Pusić said, adding that “regardless of the differing views, there are points where talks are possible and such strategy is not hopeless. Gatherings such as the MSC are an opportunity to agree on those points.”
Apart from the panel discussion on “Rethinking Energy Security: Independence in an Interdependent World”, Pusić also attended a working breakfast titled “Women’s Breakfast”, which discussed women’s participation in high politics and decision making, and the panel discussion on “Beyond Ukraine - Unresolved Conflicts in Europe”, as well as held a series of bilateral talks with her counterparts and prominent individuals.