Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy takes the spotlight on the busy inaugural day of the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in the picturesque Swiss resort of Davos. On Tuesday, over 100 heads of state and governments from the United States, European Union, Asia, Africa and the Middle East discussed strategies for addressing conflicts and embracing cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence.
The Ukrainian Week/ Tyzhden prepared a summary of the key statements made during the first day of the forum:
Ursula von der Leyen: EU must ensure continuous support for Ukraine. On January 16, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. “We discussed the key priorities of relations between Ukraine and the European Union in the near future,” Zelenskyy announced in his Telegram message. The politicians agreed to initiate the screening of the Ukrainian legislative base. “This is another step towards continuing negotiations on Ukraine’s membership in the European Union,” added the president. Ursula von der Leyen stated that Ukraine’s allies must ensure stable support to Ukraine and continue providing Ukraine with weapons and financial support if it wishes Ukraine to succeed in the war against Russia.”Ukraine can succeed in this war, but we must continue supporting their resistance,” she declared at the World Economic Forum in Davos. “Ukrainians need predictable funding throughout 2024 and beyond. They require stable arms supplies to defend Ukraine and reclaim its rightful territory,” added the President of the European Commission.
Zelenskyy meets Antony Blinken in Davos. On January 16, Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “We discussed further defence cooperation between Ukraine and the United States. This includes air defence and long-range capabilities, which are particularly important for our country”, noted Zelenskyy in a message on his Telegram channel. Zelenskyy thanked the head of the White House, Joe Biden, the U.S. Congress, and the American people “for unwavering and powerful support to Ukraine.”
Sanctions against Russia are not strong enough. During his speech, President Zelenskyy expressed disappointment with sanctions against Russia. He emphasised that the current sanctions do not hinder Russia’s missile production, and the Russian nuclear industry remains untouched by sanctions. “This year, a decisive move is crucial: to channel frozen Russian assets, sovereign funds, and oligarchs towards Ukraine’s defence against the Russian war and rebuilding Ukraine. Putin prioritises money, and the more billions he and his associates lose, the more likely he’ll regret initiating this war. We must debunk the belief that global unity is weaker than one person’s hatred. We have the power to achieve this”, said the president. Simultaneously, Zelenskyy thanked the international community for every sanctions package, stating that the future peace in Ukraine would be a reward for everyone who ensures that sanctions are upheld 100%. The president also stressed that “sadly, the weakness of the West is also evident—the nuclear industry of Russia is still not under sanctions, despite Putin being the only terrorist in the world who took nuclear power plants hostage”.
Zelenskyy meets the world’s business and financial managers. Volodymyr Zelenskyy participated in a meeting titled “Leaders of Big Business – Ukraine,” informing the participants about Ukraine’s economic growth, exceeding 5% in 2023, and optimistic GDP growth forecasts for the current year. He reminded that Ukraine restored its export opportunities through an independent “grain corridor,” not dependent on Russia. “We created a parallel corridor and demonstrated that we can push Russia’s fleet out of the Black Sea. We started transporting not only grain but also other goods,” the president explained, underscoring Ukraine’s significant efforts to protect against Russia’s aerial terror. Zelenskyy invited business representatives to invest in Ukraine and participate in its recovery, stating, “It’s important that you stand with us. Thank you for your support. It’s crucial to be here, strengthen investments in Ukraine, and support our economy,” said the head of state. He also highlighted the special potential and prospects of the defence industry, emphasizing the importance of cooperation with leading Western defence companies.
Special Representative of the United States for Ukraine Economic Recovery, Penny Pritzker, who participated in the event, urged global businesses to actively explore investment opportunities in Ukraine. She emphasized the benefits of the Ukrainian economy, including the global digitization of state governance in Ukraine.
Additionally, during the meeting with financial funds managers, Zelenskyy declared the necessity of “combined financing” to reconstruct Ukraine. According to reports, the President emphasised the significance of involving private capital in Ukraine’s reconstruction projects. He stressed the importance of developing and implementing mechanisms combining both private and state capital, particularly during the ongoing war. “Your direct role is crucial at this moment. I appreciate your active collaboration with our team, and I eagerly await tangible results,” stated Zelenskyy. He expressed hope that global financial funds would contribute to attracting numerous investors and corporations to boost Ukraine’s economy.
Jens Stoltenberg: Ukraine is now closer to NATO than ever before. Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Davos, Switzerland. Zelenskyy informed Stoltenberg about the recent intensive Russian shelling of Ukrainian cities and communities, emphasising the importance of further strengthening Ukraine’s air defence. The officials also discussed Ukraine’s other defence needs, highlighting the significance of signing a bilateral Agreement on Security Cooperation between Ukraine and the United Kingdom within the framework of the G7 Joint Declaration adopted at the previous NATO summit in Vilnius. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, after a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stated that Ukraine is now closer to the Alliance than ever.”Great to start the day in Davos by meeting President Zelenskyy. Despite the serious situation on the battlefield, there is cause for optimism: Ukraine retains its independence, Ukrainians have rejected Russia and chosen the West; and Ukraine is now closer to NATO than ever before”, Stoltenberg wrote on the X social media platform (formerly Twitter), attaching a photo with Zelenskyy.
Israel participates in Zelenskyy’s Peace Formula. For the first time, Israel participated in the discussion of Zelenskyy’s Peace Formula at the meeting of national security and foreign policy advisors on January 14 in Davos. The Israeli ambassador to Ukraine, Michael Brodsky, reported this, citing the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as The Times of Israel. “Israel took part in the discussion of Zelenskyy’s ‘Peace Formula,’ which took place earlier this week. At the fourth meeting of national security advisors in Davos, Switzerland, Israel was represented by the Deputy Head of the National Security Council,” the ambassador said in a statement. Israel’s relations with Russia deteriorated due to Moscow’s stance following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Other important statements:
- It has been two years of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Volodymyr Zelenskyy began his address by saying that the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine has been ongoing for almost two years. “With the time elapsed since the Russian illegal annexation of Ukrainian Crimea, the war has been lasting for almost 10 years,” said Zelenskyy.
- Russia’s intervention in African and Middle Eastern affairs. Zelenskyy emphasised that almost a decade has passed since Moscow began interveniung in the domestic affairs of African countries, from Sudan to Mali. Additionally, the war in “Syria, which continues to bleed due to Putin’s decisions to prove something to the world, has been ongoing for almost 13 years”. “One man stole at least 13 years of peace and replaced them with pain, suffering, and crises affecting the entire world. Putin is trying to normalise what should have ended back in the 20th century—mass deportations, destroyed cities and villages, and the horrifying sense that the war will never end,” said Zelenskyy. On Janaury 16, he also held meeting with President of Rwanda Paul Kagame. “We’ve discussed the implementation of the Peace Formula. The voice of African countries is crucial in this matter. Ukraine is interested in developing relations between our countries”, announced Zelenskyy.
- “Putin is the embodiment of war – Russian aggression beyond Ukraine’s borders is becoming increasingly likely”. Zelenskyy asserted that the entire civilised world knows that the Kremlin leader is the reason why various wars and conflicts persist and why all attempts to restore peace have failed. “And he won’t change. We must change. We all must change to the extent that the madness in the mind of this man or another aggressor won’t prevail”, explained Zelenskyy. He also pointed out that “possible directions and even timelines for new Russian aggression beyond Ukrainian borders are becoming increasingly evident. “Allow me to ask: Which European nation today can provide an army ready for action similar to the Ukrainian one, to restrain Russia, and how many men and women are you willing to deploy for your defence? If we soon will need to fight Putin together, isn’t it better to end it now while our brave men and women are already doing it? They are the world’s chance”, said Zelenskyy.
