Ukrainian President Zelensky spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos after meeting with U.S. President Trump.
The United States has arrested Venezuelan ruler Nicolas Maduro, but Russian President Vladimir Putin is still at large and is offering frozen Russian assets for participation in the 'Peace Council' established by U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. Speaking on Thursday, January 22, after talks with Donald Trump, he criticized the insufficient resolve of Europeans in defending the continent and taking the necessary measures to end Russia's war against Ukraine, while Russia 'is trying to freeze Ukrainians to death.'
Zelensky urged the West to impose even tougher sanctions against Russia and to stop oil exports from Russia on 'shadow fleet' tankers. He criticized the EU's refusal of a plan to use frozen Russian funds for reparations loans to Ukraine. Zelensky also condemned Europe's inaction in the face of the brutal suppression of protests in Iran and during the protests in Belarus following the 2020 presidential elections.
Zelensky: Trump Will Not Listen to Such Europe
According to the Ukrainian president, Trump will continue not to listen to such Europe. The American president established the 'Peace Council,' but Europeans do not even have a unified position on this matter, Zelensky stated.
He emphasized that without the U.S., security guarantees for Ukraine after the end of the war will not work, calling the meeting with Trump in Davos productive and substantive.
Trump described the meeting with Zelensky as 'good,' with the talks lasting about an hour. Responding to journalists' questions afterward about what message he would like to send to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump stated that Russia's war against Ukraine must end. He also noted that both sides are striving for peace.
Trump: Zelensky is Ready to Make a Deal
Speaking at a speech in Davos the day before, Trump expressed confidence that the Ukrainian president is ready to make a deal. 'I think I can say that we have come quite close to this,' he said. The U.S. president reiterated that the war in Ukraine, which has been ongoing for nearly four years, must be stopped.
Zelensky's meeting with Trump took place just hours before U.S. Special Representative Stephen Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner were set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
Zelensky himself noted on January 20 that due to ongoing Russian air attacks, he has many urgent matters in Ukraine. Therefore, he will only go to Switzerland if a document is prepared for signing or if new specific promises of assistance, including air defense supplies, emerge. However, U.S. President Trump expressed a desire to meet with the President of Ukraine in Davos.
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