Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a stinging rebuke of European allies at the World Economic Forum in Davos, while also updating on the results of his meeting with Donald Trump.
Zelensky recalled ending his Davos speech last year by warning that Europe must know how to defend itself. "A year has passed – and nothing has changed. I have to say the same words again," the President noted.
He drew a parallel between the situations involving Putin and Maduro: Trump conducted an operation in Venezuela, and Maduro is now facing justice in New York. "I am sorry, but Putin is not in court. And this is in the fourth year of a full-scale war in Europe," Zelensky stressed.
The President stated that there is still no real progress on establishing a tribunal for Russian aggression. "Europe hasn't even reached a decision on the location for the future tribunal's building," he added.
Regarding Greenland, Zelensky observed that most leaders are at a loss. "It seems everyone is just waiting for America to cool off on this topic, hoping it will fade away. But what if it doesn't – what then?" the President asked. He also posed the question: "If you send 30 or 40 soldiers to Greenland – what is that for? What is the message? What signal does that send to Putin and China?"
Zelensky suggested Ukraine could assist with Russian ships near Greenland: "They can sink near Greenland just as they sink near Crimea. That is not a problem. We could solve this problem if we were in NATO – but we are not in NATO."
The President also accused Europe of failing the 2020 protests in Belarus. "Nobody helped the people, and now Russian 'Oreshnik' missiles are deployed in Belarus within striking distance of most European capitals. This would not have happened had the Belarusian people won in 2020," he declared.
Zelensky called for the confiscation of Russian oil transported along European coasts: "Russian oil supplies must be stopped; it needs to be seized and sold for the benefit of Europe. If Putin has no money, there will be no war."
The President thanked the UK and France for their commitments to deploy troops in Ukraine after peace is achieved but emphasized that no security guarantees for Ukraine work without the US.
Regarding his meeting with Trump, Zelensky reported: "We discussed the teams' work, and there are meetings or communication practically every day. The documents are at an even more advanced stage of preparation."
He also mentioned that the US launched a "Peace Council" today. "They invited Ukraine, as well as Russia and Belarus, but the war has not stopped. There isn't even a ceasefire," Zelensky noted. According to him, Europe has not even formulated a position on this American initiative.
The President urged the creation of a "Joint Armed Forces" of Europe and asked: "If Putin decides to seize Lithuania or strike Poland, who will respond?"
"Ukraine is ready for the end of the war. And Russia must also be ready for the end of the war," Zelensky concluded.