The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, tried this Tuesday in Davos to revive, with a powerful electric shock of speeches and meetings, Western aid to his country. He did so by detailing what, in his opinion, would be the stark consequences of leaving Ukrainian forces weakened, not only for the country he presides over, but for Europe, the West, and the world. “My advice is not to experiment with withdrawing aid to Ukraine,” summarized Zelensky, in a meeting with a group of journalists following his speech at the plenary session.
Zelensky’s visit to Davos occurs at a time when new aid from the US and the EU is paralyzed by resistance from the Republicans, in the first case, and from Hungary, in the second. To spur the unlocking, the president pointed out that the fight in Ukraine is of vital importance for the security of Europe. “If anyone thinks that this is only regarding Ukraine, they are making a fundamental mistake. The possible directions and even the timetable of a new Russian aggression beyond Ukraine are becoming increasingly clear,” said Zelensky, who did not elaborate further, but asked in Davos which European army is as prepared as the Ukrainian one to repel a Russian attack. .
The question takes on greater significance on a day in which Trump has demonstrated the strength of his options to return to the White House, with approaches that call into question the credibility of his commitment to both Ukraine and European allies. Asked regarding the prospect of a new Trump mandate, Zelensky responded with diplomatic words, although he gave a short sigh, perfectly perceptible in a small room.
Zelensky was also forceful in his observations towards those who contemplate diplomatic possibilities that would freeze the conflict. “Putin is a predator who will not settle for frozen products,” he said. “Putin will not change. We have to change,” he warned. Future world peace depends on it, he added later.
While outlining the risks of waning support and past mistakes made by Western partners, Zelensky repeatedly showed himself open to humor. Perhaps, he has gathered positive signs in his meetings in Davos; that’s what he said regarding the soon unlocking of EU aid.
Zelensky’s list of requests is extensive. Of course, more arms and financial support, but also the use of frozen reserves to Russia for the reconstruction of the country. Implicitly, Zelensky also showed his discomfort with restrictions on the use of long-range weapons that Ukraine receives, for which Western partners demand that they not be used to strike on Russian territory. “You will understand that I do not go into detail on this matter, but I can tell you that we have questions.”
Zelensky reproaches the West for excessive timidity in aid. In his speech at the plenary session, he stressed that the initial hesitations when it came to handing over weapons led to “lost opportunities,” that all concerns regarding the risk of escalation turned out to be unfounded, that so many Russian threats were just bluffs that sought to inhibit, and that they achieved it.
He also criticized that the sanctions are ineffective, because they are not really slowing down the Russian defense industry and do not adequately hit the nuclear sector. Something he considered a “symptom of the West’s weakness.” He also called for frozen Russian funds to be used for reconstruction, which he believes currently needs regarding $700 billion.
Zelensky warned of the enormous challenge posed by the limited production capacity of 155 caliber artillery, which is used by NATO allies. He pointed out that all current world production would not be enough to adequately supply Ukraine’s needs, and recounted the episode of a leader – whose name he did not specify – who told him of the enormous difficulties he had encountered in supplying 2,000 bullets to Ukraine and who then told him He asked how much those projectiles would last. Zelensky’s answer was, roughly, a third of a single day.
The president praised the extraordinary solvency of the Patriot batteries, which he maintained have the Russians in a state of “shock.”
But Zelensky also addressed the financial and business community. He held meetings with senior leaders, including JPMorgan Chase’s Jamie Dimon. In his speech at the plenary session he said: “Strengthen our economy, we will strengthen your security.” He boasted that the Ukrainian economy has returned to a path of growth, that inflation is contained, and that despite the war the path of reforms is advancing.
The president garnered clear words of support from both the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the NATO secretary, Jens Stoltenberg. But the political obstacles to kyiv receiving more aid remain.
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