Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday lashed out at his European allies, saying the continent’s response to the issue has been slow, fragmented and inadequate. Russian invasion nearly four years ago and continued international aggression.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Zelensky cited a series of grievances and criticisms of Europe that he said have left Ukraine at the mercy of Russian President Vladimir Putin over the ongoing situation in Ukraine. The United States promotes a peaceful solution.
“Europe looks lost,” Zelensky said in his speech, urging the continent to become a global force. He contrasted Europe’s response with Washington’s bold moves in Venezuela and Iran.
The former comedian mentioned the movie “Groundhog Day,” in which the main character must relive the same day over and over again.
“Just last year, here in Davos, I ended my speech with these words: Europe needs to know how to defend itself. A year has passed. Nothing has changed. We are still in a situation where I have to say the same thing again,” Zelensky said.
Ukrainians, he said, also seemed caught up in the reality of war, “repeating the same thing for weeks, months and, of course, years. But this is how we live now. This is our life.”
Meeting with Trump
His remarks came about an hour after he met behind closed doors. davos Talks with US President Donald Trump ‘very good’. Zelensky called them “productive and meaningful.”
European countries, which believe their future defense is at risk in the war on its eastern flank, have provided financial, military and humanitarian support to Kyiv, but not all members of the 27-nation EU are helping. Ukraine is also frustrated by political divisions within Europe over how to deal with Russia and the EU’s sometimes slow response.
Since the start of hostilities in 2014 and a full-scale invasion in 2022, Russia’s larger military has succeeded in occupying about 20% of Ukraine’s territory. But battlefield gains along a roughly 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front have been costly for Moscow and have affected the Russian economy. feel the consequences war and international sanctions.
Ukraine is cash-strapped and, despite significantly improving its own weapons manufacturing, still needs Western weapons. The front lines were also undermanned. its defense minister reported last week About 200,000 soldiers deserted, and about 2 million Ukrainians evaded military service.
Zelensky has also worked to keep the world’s attention on Ukraine despite other conflicts.
Zelensky says he is inactive on key decisions
He accused Europe of being slow to make key decisions, spending too little on defense, and failing to stop Russia’s offensive. Oil tanker “shadow fleet” are violating international sanctions and are unwilling to use its frozen assets Among other things, financing Ukraine in Europe.
Europe, he said, “still feels more like a geography, a history, a tradition than a real political power, not a great power.”
“Some Europeans are really strong, that’s true, but many people say we have to be strong and they always want someone to tell them how long they need to be strong, preferably until the next election,” he said.
The Trump administration is pushing for a peace settlement, with its envoys shuttling between Kiev and Moscow for a series of negotiations that some fear could force Ukraine into an unfavorable deal.
conference in moscow
The Kremlin said Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkov and his son-in-law Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow late Thursday and sat down for more talks with Putin.
Witkov said in Davos that there was a major issue still to be resolved in negotiations, but did not say what it was. Zelensky said the future status of lands in eastern Ukraine currently occupied by Russia has not yet been resolved, but that peace proposals are “close to being ready.”
He said that if a deal was reached, the United States and Ukraine would agree on post-war security guarantees, although that would require approval from both countries.
Zelensky said a two-day trilateral meeting involving the United States, Ukraine and Russia will take place in the United Arab Emirates on Friday.
“The Russians have to be prepared to compromise because, you know, everyone has to be prepared, not just Ukraine, and that’s important for us,” he said.
Trump and Zelensky had one a worrying relationshipand the President of the United States has Sometimes he rebuked Putin.
Zelensky said he was grateful to Trump for providing the U.S.-made Patriot air defense system, which could help prevent Russian missiles from repeatedly attacking Ukraine’s power grid and paralyzing it. suffering of civilians Deny light, heat and running water. He said he asked Trump for more.
After Trump cut support for Ukraine, other NATO countries began buying weapons from the United States and donating them to Kiev under the deal. special financial arrangements.
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Khrabchuk reported from Kiev, Ukraine.