Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky courted the global elite in Davos on Tuesday, issuing a mix of grim warnings and hopeful notes as concerns rise over the future of Western backing for Russia.
After addressing the World Economic Forum by video in prior years, Zelensky flew to the Swiss mountain resort, warning that 2024 will be important in resisting the Russian invasion.
Donning black military fatigues, Zelensky maintained his star power, garnering a standing ovation and was welcomed to the stage as a “historical figure.”
However, nearly two years after the invasion, Zelensky faces mounting uncertainty, with the US Congress blocked on supplying more weapons, European countries getting impatient, and the impending danger of a return of Donald Trump, who has dismissively rejected aid to Ukraine.
Zelensky insisted that questions on support were “only a matter of weeks” and said, “I believe we can also manage the question of aid in Congress.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, this year must be — must be — decisive,” he said.
Zelensky met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who promised to “sustain our support” despite congressional questions.
In his speech, Zelensky opposed the prospect of freezing the fight with Russia, which has mostly succeeded in repelling a significant Ukrainian counteroffensive in the east despite failing at a quick takeover in February 2022.
“Any frozen conflict will eventually reignite,” Zelensky said.
He underlined that Germany and France had guaranteed the prior Minsk diplomatic procedure following Russia’s seizure of the Crimean peninsula in 2014.
Zelensky described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “predator” who will not be pleased, saying, to nods and gasps in the audience, “I don’t believe Putin is capable of changing because only humans can do that.”
Putin responded on Tuesday that Moscow’s forces had the upper hand, informing Kyiv that their counter-offensive had failed and that “if this continues, Ukraine’s statehood could be dealt an irreparable, very serious blow.”
Call for peace summit
Nonetheless, Zelensky expressed openness to peace talks, although on Ukraine’s terms.
Expanding on his prior recommendations for a global summit, Zelensky stated that it may be held in Switzerland at the level of leaders.
“I invite every leader and country that respects peace and international law to join us,” Zelensky said.
On Sunday, some 80 national security advisors convened in Davos to discuss the peace effort, an amorphous notion supported in part by Saudi Arabia on behalf of non-Western states affected by the conflict.
Looking ahead, Zelensky spoke with CEOs of key corporations and emphasized Ukraine’s economic potential. He informed them that Ukraine was prepared to send more diverse commodities after successfully securing passage through the Black Sea for its important grain exports, defying Russian naval pressure.
Zelensky, on the other hand, has made it clear that peace entails reclaiming area that Russia has conquered.
“If anyone thinks this is only about us, this is only about Ukraine, they are fundamentally mistaken,” Zelensky said.
“Possible directions and even timelines of new Russian aggression beyond Ukraine become more and more obvious,” he said.
Until ‘Russia fails’
Since Russia’s invasion, the United States has contributed over $44 billion in military aid to Ukraine, as well as billions more in economic support and money to allies.
President Joe Biden’s administration released a final package at the end of December, with the rival Republican Party blocking a request for an additional $61 billion owing to an unrelated debate over tougher US immigration laws.
While many Republicans support Ukraine, Donald Trump, the party’s front-runner for the nomination to face Biden, has publicly sneered at additional help, claiming it is wasteful and that Russia will most certainly win.
Biden’s national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, conveyed Zelensky a quite different message, telling him at their discussion that the US will work until “Russia fails and Ukraine wins.”