We know that there have been violations of freedom of speech, which affects not only the British – said US vice president JD Vance at a meeting with Great Britain Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The British leader immediately answered him. As Sky News indicates, the British prime minister also interrupted Donald Trump when he said that European countries would “regain money” that they donated Ukraine to war against Russia.
During the Thursday meeting Donald Trump With Keir Starmer in the oval office in the White House, one of the current reporters asked the president USA o will refer to the words of JD Vance, who during the conference in Munich He talked about problems with freedom of speech in Great Britain. Trump replied that “we have this man here”, after which he asked the vice president who was present at the meeting to respond to his words.
“I said what I said,” Vance began. – Of course, we maintain special relations with our friends in Great Britain, as well as with our European allies, but we know that there have been violations of freedom of speech, which affects not only the British. Of course, what the British do in their own country is their matter, but this also affected American technology companies, and thus, on American citizens – he continued, adding that it would be “it will be” a matter that they will discuss during today's lunch. “
Then Keir Starmer spoke, who said that “we have freedom of speech in the UK for a long time, it will last a long time and we are very proud of it.” – We would not like to influence American citizens and we do not do it, we absolutely agree in this matter. But when it comes to freedom of speech in Great Britain, I am very proud of our history in this area – he added.
As Sky News indicates, the Prime Minister of Great Britain during the Thursday visit to the United States also interrupted Donald Trump when he said that European countries “regain money” that they transferred Ukraine in the war with Russia. – We won't get everything. I mean, a lot of our funds have been given. There were several loans, but they were mainly donations – said Starmer.
JD Vance in Munich
One of the most commented on this year's Munich security conference was JD Vance's speech, which he delivered on February 14.
The US Vice President stated, among others, that The main threat to Europe is not from Russia or China at all. – What I am worried about is the threat from the inside, the withdrawal of Europe from some of its most basic values, values shared with the United States – said the Vice President of the United States. – Perhaps the most disturbing is that I look at our dear friends, Great Britain, where the basic religious freedoms of citizens were in the crosshairs, because they ceased to respect the right to freedom of conscience – he continued. – In Great Britain and all over Europe, I'm afraid, freedom of speech is in the reverse – he emphasized.
The speech of the vice president caused indignation in Europe. German defense minister Boris Pistorius responded to Vance's speech during the conference. – I vigorously oppose the impression that Vice President Vance left that in our democracy minorities are persecuted and that they are forced to silence – he said, departing from the prepared text of the speech. Pistorius accused Vance of challenging democracy in Europe and compared the situation in a part of the continent to the situation in authoritarian regimes. “This is unacceptable,” said Pistorius, to which conference participants reacted with long applause.
Donald Tusk On the website X, he reacted to Vance's quotation in Munich, the words of the Pope – “do not be afraid”. “Everyone who quotes the words of John Paul II – 'do not be afraid' should remember that they were aimed at strengthening the resistance of the Polish nation against Russian domination,” the prime minister wrote.
Source of the main photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images