U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI) were among those in attendance at the annual Munich Security Conference, a forum on international security challenges established in 1963.

Also in attendance at this year’s event are Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry and Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-AZ).

Topics for the conference include the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the rise of the terrorist group ISIL. On Friday, Whitehouse and Langevin joined Senator McCain for a speech from German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who shared her perspective on the crisis in Ukraine. During her remarks, Merkel said that diplomacy must be the approach to secure peace in Europe.

“I’m honored to join Sen. McCain, Congressman Langevin and other distinguished guests for this year’s Munich Security Conference,” Whitehouse said. “With events in Ukraine, ongoing threats from terrorist groups, and so much more, this a critical time to hear from transatlantic partners about the challenges we face and how we can confront them.”

Langevin, the co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus, is particularly concerned with the role that cybersecurity plays in global conflict.

“Modern warfare will always include a cyber component and that presents its own unique challenges, particularly when it comes to attribution,” Langevin said. “The Munich Security Conference is an important opportunity to underscore the need for more robust cyber defenses, and this weekend’s discussion will provide context for my policy work in the cyber arena.”