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Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky delivered an unflinching critique of Europe’s weakness, saying the region risks sliding into irrelevance if it does not invest heavily in its own defense.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Zelenskyy said on Tuesday that Donald Trump’s return to the White House meant Europe must prepare for US disengagement from its security.
“Will President Trump Notice Europe? Does he consider NATO necessary? » asked Zelensky.
The Ukrainian president said that while Western allies saw the United States as an indispensable security ally, no one thought the same of Europe.
“Is there anyone in the United States who fears that Europe might abandon them one day? The answer is no. »
It was “not even clear” that Europeans would have a role to play in any negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, he added.
“Europe deserves to be more than a mere spectator, with its leaders reduced to posting on X after a deal has already been reached. Europe must shape the terms of these agreements,” Zelenskyy said.
Zelensky supported Trump’s call for NATO members to spend up to 5 percent of their GDP on defense.
“If it takes 5 percent of GDP to cover defense, so be it. »
Zelensky barely addressed Trump’s stated desire to end the war quickly – although the US president and his advisers recently said it could take six months to reach an agreement, instead of the 24 hours he boasted during his campaign. Nor did he address Trump supporters who have called for an end to U.S. aid to Ukraine.
He insisted his relationship with Trump was “good” but said some of the president’s allies had spread misinformation about Ukraine and Russian propaganda, and so it was all the more important that Europe has a stronger voice to counter these messages.
Zelensky reiterated his call for Europe to provide meaningful security guarantees to kyiv, assuming that NATO membership remains out of reach for Ukraine due to reluctance from Washington and other capitals.
French President Emmanuel Macron questioned his European partners on their willingness to deploy troops to Ukraine after a ceasefire, either to train Ukrainian forces or in sufficient quantities to deter further Russian aggression. However, the idea has so far had little success.
“If the security guarantees are weak. . . then you will only have words from Russia and they will return with war,” Zelensky said.
He said he would resist any attempt by Russia to impose limits on the size of Ukraine’s armed forces as part of a peace deal with Moscow.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the WEF on Tuesday that the EU would stand by Ukraine even if the United States reduced its support.
“We will continue to support Ukraine without doubt, whatever happens next,” she said.