Zelensky fires off on European leaders for little progress on ending war
At the Davos World Economic Forum, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a blunt, roughly 10‑minute address criticizing European leaders for “Groundhog Day” inaction on ending the war and strengthening defenses. He said Europe talks about the future but avoids decisive action, allowing internal divisions to undermine unity against Russia.
zelensky cited examples of uneven responses-pointing to U.S. operations in Venezuela and recent seizures of shadow‑fleet tankers-to ask why Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian tankers are not being similarly held to account by Europe. He noted, coincidentally, that French President Emmanuel Macron announced a French Navy seizure of a tanker suspected of flying a false flag as Zelensky spoke.
He argued Ukraine could help counter Russian or Chinese vessels in sensitive areas such as near Greenland, saying Ukraine has the expertise and weapons to act. Zelensky also praised former President Donald Trump’s push for higher European defense spending, noting a sharp rise in NATO members meeting the 2% GDP defense target after Russia’s invasion and arguing Europe should aim higher.
Zelensky met with Trump before his Davos speech; both called the meeting productive, and Trump is sending envoys to Moscow to pursue peace talks. NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte urged leaders to refocus on supporting Ukraine. Zelensky concluded by lamenting Europe’s fragmentation and urged leaders to move from rhetoric to concrete action to stop Russia.
Zelensky talks tough to European leaders about little progress on ending war: ‘Groundhog day’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized his fellow European leaders for making little progress in helping end the war and expanding their national defenses in a fiery speech at the Davos World Economic Forum.
“Europe loves to discuss the future, but avoids taking action today, action that defines what kind of future we will have. That is the problem,” he said, and the topic became a theme of his roughly 10-minute address to world leaders.
“Just last year, here in Davos, I ended my speech with the words, ‘Europe needs to know how to defend itself.’ A year has passed, and nothing has changed,” Zelensky added. “In Europe, there are endless internal arguments and things left unsaid that stop Europe from uniting and speaking honestly enough to find real solutions. And too often, Europeans turn against each other, leaders, parties, movements, and communities, instead of standing together to stop Russia.”
The Ukrainian leader likened that feeling to “the great American film Groundhog Day.”
He compared various world events and the world’s reactions to them, expressing frustration at the lack of “action” toward Ukraine.
Zelensky mentioned the U.S. mission to capture former Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and the U.S. seizures of several shadow fleet oil tankers that were operating near Venezuelan waters, raising the question to European leaders about why Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s tankers in the shadow fleet haven’t been seized by European forces.
“Let’s look at the Western Hemisphere. President Trump led an operation in Venezuela, and Maduro was arrested, and there were different opinions about it, but the fact remains, Maduro is on trial in New York. Sorry, but Putin is not on trial,” he said.
Coincidentally, as Zelensky spoke, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the French Navy had seized an oil tanker “coming from Russia” in the Mediterranean Sea, which he said was “suspected of flying a false flag.”
He was also quick to point out how Ukraine could be effective at helping aid European countries destroy Russian or Chinese vessels navigating near Greenland, which Trump has said was one of the driving factors behind his push for the United States to acquire the frozen island in the Arctic.
“We know what to do if Russian warships are sailing freely around Greenland. Ukraine can help. We have the expertise and weapons to ensure not one of those ships remains. They can sink near Greenland, just as they do near Crimea. No problem. We have the tools, and we have people for us.”
Ahead of his speech, Zelensky met with President Donald Trump about the peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. Both leaders said the meeting was productive, but offered few additional details.
The Russia-Ukraine war “has to end,” Trump said after the meeting. “We hope it’s going to end.”
“I think the meeting was good,” Trump added.
Trump is dispatching two envoys, Jared Kushner, his son-in-law, and Steve Witkoff, a longtime friend turned negotiating leader, to Moscow for meetings at the Kremlin late this week.
The Ukrainian leader missed the first portion of the forum after Russian forces launched a significant assault on their energy infrastructure, leaving portions of the country without basic necessities during the winter. The majority of the summit had been focused on Trump’s proposal to acquire Greenland.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said leaders needed to refocus their conversations on supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.
Zelensky, in his address, praised Trump’s push for Europe to commit more to defense spending.
“Let’s remember, until America pressured Europe to spend more on defense, most countries were not even trying to reach 5% of GDP, the minimum needed to ensure security. Europe needs to know how to defend itself,” he said.
Trump didn’t push the NATO alliance to increase the defense spending minimum from 2% Gross Domestic Product to 5% until his second term, in 2025. There was a significant jump in the number of countries that hit the 2% mark after Russia invaded Ukraine. Only six countries hit the mark in 2021, while 23 of 32 countries hit it in 2024.
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Zelensky also addressed Trump’s criticisms of European leaders, many of which he spoke about during his respective address to the forum a day earlier.
“Europe remains a beautiful but fragmented kaleidoscope of small and middle powers. Instead of taking the lead in defending freedom worldwide, especially when America’s focus shifts elsewhere, Europe looks lost trying to convince the U.S. president to change, but he will not change. President Trump loves who he is, and he says he loves Europe, but he will not listen to this kind of Europe,” Zelensky added.
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