MUNICH, Feb 17 – The world community must protect the principles on which the world order is based and which Russia and its President Vladimir Putin questioned by attacking Ukraine, the Munich Security Conference (MSC) in 2023 is focused on this, its Chairman Christoph Heusgen said.

"On the 20 February 2022, we had a glimpse of hope that Vladimir Putin would be impressed by the unity the international community demonstrated here, at the Munich Security Conference. We all know what happened. Putin committed breach of civilization: it is the first time since World War II, that in Europe one country denied the right of existence of another country and started the war," he said, opening the conference session on Friday and anticipating the speech of President Volodymyr Zelensky.