U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in Germany to participate in the Munich Security Conference (MSC) 2026, warning that the world is experiencing a “defining moment.”
“The world is changing rapidly before our eyes. The old world is gone – honestly, the world I grew up in – and we now live in a new era of geopolitics, which will require all of us to reconsider what it looks like and what our role will be,” Rubio said before departing from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.
Rubio indicated that he might meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on February 14, though he was not “100%” certain the meeting would take place.
Addressing the ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which have left hundreds of thousands in cold and darkness during winter, Rubio emphasized that these challenges underscore Washington’s continued efforts toward peace.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha also expressed plans to meet with Rubio, noting ongoing high-level contacts and highlighting the need for U.S. leadership in ending the war.
The MSC organizers stated that this year’s conference is the largest ever, with over 1,000 delegates, including around 50 heads of state and senior diplomats. Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti confirmed his participation, while President Vjosa Osmani canceled her attendance due to domestic commitments.
The conference occurs amid global tensions: potential U.S. airstrikes on Iran, the approaching fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and uncertainties over NATO’s transatlantic future.
Former EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso urged Europe to strengthen its military independence while maintaining Atlantic ties, warning that U.S. disengagement could threaten transatlantic security.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will officially open the conference, emphasizing Europe’s need to bolster its military capabilities against Russian aggression and uncertainty about U.S. commitment to NATO.
Key sessions include morning discussions on “Building Bridges in a Tense World,” a panel on “Rules Without Power? Europe’s Geostrategic Capacity,” and the main afternoon session titled “Breaking Point: The International Order Between Reform and Destruction.”
Rubio travels with a bipartisan group of U.S. senators, who plan meetings with Zelensky, NATO leadership, and other European officials. Senator Jeanne Shaheen emphasized that the trip aims to strengthen U.S. support for Ukraine and push for bipartisan sanctions legislation to hold Russia and its allies accountable.
