Volodymyr Zelenskiy warns against repeating 20th-century mistakes as the threat of invasion looms.

In Munich, near the historic Hotel Bayerischer Hof, where world leaders convened for the annual security conference, lies the somber No. 12 Arcisstrasse, a closed and weathered structure known as the Führerbau.

This building, associated with a pivotal moment in history, bears a stark reminder of past diplomatic failures. A modest plaque near its entrance commemorates the Munich Agreement signed on September 29, 1938, which enabled the dismemberment of Czechoslovakia. The signatories, including Adolf Hitler and British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, sought to avert war by ceding the Sudetenland, relying on Hitler’s false assurances that his territorial ambitions would end there.

Now abandoned and in disrepair, the Führerbau stands as a testament to misjudgments in diplomacy. Against this backdrop, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addressed the gathered leaders, posing a poignant question: “Has the world forgotten its mistakes of the 20th century?” His plea underscored the urgency of avoiding appeasement as Ukraine faces the growing threat of invasion.