Zelenskyy plays fighter, charmer and joker in Davos, but hints endgame must come soon

Ukrainian President says he’s searching for the ‘least painful alternatives’ in a Europe running out of time, patience and cash

Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to journalists in Davos after a main speech that was critical of Europe. Rory Reynolds / The National

Volodymyr Zelenskyy faced a different reality when he arrived in Davos this week, with Europe running low on cash and patience amid a three-year war on its doorstep.

France, with a deficit twice what EU rules allow, has voted to bring its swollen budget under control, while Germany is set to have a new leader next month. US President Donald Trump says he wants to end the war but remains highly unpredictable, with the $180 billion in US aid for Ukraine given by former president Joe Biden expected to dry up.

On Tuesday, in unusually critical remarks about Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mr Trump said: “He should make a deal … I think Russia’s going to be in big trouble. Zelenskyy wants to make a deal.”

With regards to the expansion of America, I think they were general phrases. If, for example, they wanted to expand at the expense of the Russian Federation, then of course, why not?!

Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Trump's talk of annexing Greenland

Mr Zelenskyy also struck an unusually critical note against his European allies on stage at the World Economic Forum, warning they were “falling behind” the US and China in the tech and AI race, and telling them to “put paid” to Iran's threat.

Afterwards, in a media briefing which included The National, he spoke about what it would take to end the war and hinted that he had to have a convincing deal to sell to his people.

“Who will stop a father with a weapon who lost his child?” he said. Mr Zelenskyy also touched on Mr Trump's desire to seize Greenland, saying he was welcome to annex some of the Russian Federation instead.

On ending the war

“We are the victim. Putin is the occupier. He started the war and he's not hiding this fact. But seeing as we want to finish this war, and President Trump also says he would like to finish the war, and I believe he [Trump] could help us.

“But we all should understand that Putin does not want to end the war. Because he did not achieve his objective. This is why it's difficult for us, difficult for our allies – and difficult for President Trump as well.

On accepting the loss of territory

“Even if all the allies in the world come together, we will still not recognise the occupation. Legally, we'll never recognise it. So, until these territories come back, they will be occupied by Russia.

“We've lost children, relatives, husbands, I don't want to get emotional, but I want you to understand our position. Was it all in vain? Will it be lost in history?

“There is an understanding of how to exit this war so that Ukraine would still remain Ukraine, a sovereign Ukraine. [Putin] does not want this. But does he have a vision of exit? I don't think he has.

US President Donald Trump is shown on screen as he addresses a plenary session remotely in Davos, Switzerland. EPA

Participants queue to enter the Congress Hall. EPA

Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid. EPA

Special police stationed on the roof of the Congress Hotel in Davos. EPA

Former UK prime minister Tony Blair and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shibani at the Annual Meeting of World Economic Forum in Davos. AP

Javier Milei, Argentina's President, during an interview at Bloomberg House at the event. Bloomberg

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on the podium. AFP

Iran's Vice President for Strategic Affairs Mohammad Zarif addresses the audience. AFP

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, left, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Getty Images

Israel's President Isaac Herzog at the annual meeting in Davos. AP

Saudi Arabia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan, during the 55th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos. Reuters

The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, attends the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos. Reuters

President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa speaks at a plenary session. EPA

Khaldoon Al Mubarak, chief executive of Mubadala Investment Co, during a panel session in Davos. Bloomberg

Former British prime minister Theresa May at the 55th annual World Economic Forum. EPA

Brian Moynihan, chief executive officer of Bank of America Corp, at the forum. Bloomberg

Ruth Porat, chief financial officer of Alphabet Inc, at Bloomberg House. Bloomberg

Amir Yaron, governor of Israel's central bank, at the WEF in Davos. Bloomberg

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director general of the World Trade Organisation in Davos. Bloomberg

From left, Rachel Morison, editor at Bloomberg News, Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, Ester Baiget, chief executive of Novozymes, Marc Ferracci, France's Industry and Energy Minister, Martin Lundstedt, chief executive of Volvo, and Anna Borg, chief executive of Vattenfall AB, during a panel session at the World Economic Forum. Bloomberg

Rafael Grossi, director general of International Atomic Energy Agency, speaks at the WEF. Bloomberg

Mina Al-Oraibi, editor-in-chief of The National, left, Mohamed Kande, global chairman of PwC, second left, Ravi Kumar S, chief executive of Cognizant, second right, and Luc Triangle, general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation, right, during the panel session titled, Who Benefits from Augmentation? Photo: WEF

Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, speaks during the Refugees and Their Olympian Spirit session. Photo: WEF

Bandar Bin Mohammed Al Thani, Governor of the Qatar Central Bank, during the session called Banks: Change on All Fronts? Photo: WEF

Masomah Ali Zada, chef de mission of the Refugee Olympic Team, France, speaks during the Refugees and Their Olympian Spirit session. Photo: WEF

Watching the inauguration of Donald Trump as US President on screens, at the Ukraine House, during the World Economic Forum in Davos. AP

Waleed Al Muhairi, deputy group chief executive of Mubadala Investment Company, during a Bloomberg Television interview before the WEF. Bloomberg

On Ukraine after the war

“Could we start life over without knowing … what if he starts the war again? We can't bring children who have been taken out of the country … people cannot leave the trenches. Investors are coming? Will they come? No way.

“It cannot just be a deal with the devil. We need to talk to him from a position of strength because if we start talking as equals, that will be a defeat for Ukraine.

Nato membership

“We would like to be in Nato. And the majority of members support us. But four countries do not: the US, Germany, Slovakia and Hungary. And all of these four countries, everything depends on the US. The Nato issue depends on the US. If President Trump wants to see us in Nato, we will be in Nato.”

On meeting Trump

On Ukraine's Chief of Staff meeting with Vice President JD Vance in December: “They had a meeting in the US. They had a good meeting. It was very difficult because of the inauguration to make concrete steps, because of American law. Now we will see. Maybe [US envoy Lt Gen Keith] Kellogg will come along, maybe some more guys will come to Kyiv – and of course, we'll have a meeting in Washington. Soon.”

On Trump's plan to annex Greenland

“With regards to the expansion of America, I think they were general phrases. If, for example, they wanted to expand at the expense of the Russian Federation, then of course, why not?

On France's budget crisis

“We have very good relations with Emmanuel Macron and his team. We've known each other for many years, five years. We've had difficult moments but I'm grateful for his support in difficult times.

On Brazil's 'failed' peace deal

“We very much wanted to join all of the countries so that we were all at the table. But Brazil decided to come up with its own initiative and China wanted its own initiative. And the African continent … the Arab countries and the Middle East, all had their own visions. And none of those make the war closer to an end.

“Today, I believe that the opportunity has been missed, their train has gone in a different direction. I've met [President] Lula and asked him to be the partner to put an end to the war, but now he's no longer a player. He's not a player – and for Trump, he won't be a player.

Ukrainian troops fire a 120-mm mortar towards Russian positions on the frontline near Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region on January 16, 2025. Reuters

On a Ukrainian 'buffer' between the EU and Russia

“Nato is the cheapest security guarantee for Ukraine, for America, for Europe and Russians. Today, we have 800,000 military personnel. We would need to have a one million army, because what quantity can stand in defence [against Russia].

“Who will provide supplies for the one million army? If Europe says that Ukraine defends not only Ukraine but also Europe it is logical for us all to supply this army with weapons … because Ukraine will not have the budget for a one million army.

“If they have a 1.5 million army, if we have less, two times, it means we need contingents.... with a very strong number of soldiers. 200,000 Europeans? 200,000 is the minimum. Otherwise, it's nothing.

'You have $250bn in Russia assets, let's get it'

“I say you have $250 billion in frozen Russian assets, I say let's get it, let's do some infrastructure and the sustainment of the army until we are in the Nato alliance.

“I'm not saying this is something unimaginable, I'm saying it's something I've discussed already …

On selling peace to the Ukrainian people

“We lost a lot of people, husbands lost their lives, and the opposite. And if we're not in Nato who will stop a father with a weapon who lost his child? Nato is a compromise. If you are in Nato, you [a future Ukraine] will never go with a weapon to the Russians. If we are not in Nato, this is the answer …”