Zelenskyy tells Europe stop trying to ‘change’ Trump in Davos speech
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, January 22, 2026.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Europe of “getting lost” and trying to persuade US President Donald Trump to help them instead of uniting to defend itself.
“Europe seems lost in trying to persuade the US president to change, rather than taking the lead in defending freedom around the world, especially as America’s focus shifts elsewhere,” he said in a powerful speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, after nearly four years of war with Russia.
“President Trump loves himself and says he loves Europe, but he will not listen to this kind of Europe,” Zelenskyy said. He had met privately with Trump shortly before his speech.
“Europe still feels less like a real political power or a great power, more like a geography, a history, a tradition,” Zelenskyy said. he added.
“Some Europeans are really strong, that’s true, but many of them say ‘we must stand strong’ and they always want someone else to tell them how strong they should stand, preferably until the next election.”
Zelenskyy also announced that tripartite meetings will be held in the UAE on Friday and Saturday with the participation of Ukraine, Russia and the USA. He added that Russians “must be ready for compromises” to end the war.
‘Nothing has changed’
In a week of focus in Davos Zelenskyy, who said that the USA’s threats to annex Greenland, customs duties on European countries and the new Gaza “Peace Board”, started his speech by saying that Europe’s inaction made his country feel like it was experiencing “Mole Day”.
Zelenskyy said: “Just last year in Davos I finished my speech with these words: ‘Europe needs to know how to defend itself.’ A year has passed and nothing has changed. “We’re still in a situation where I have to say the same words.”
“United, we are truly invincible, and Europe can and should be a global power, not a slow reactor,” he added.
A bruise can be seen on the back of US President Donald Trump’s left hand during the “Peace Board” signing ceremony at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on January 22, 2026.
Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images
Trump’s maneuver in Greenland formed the background of many politicians’ speeches at the meeting. Zelenskyy criticized NATO countries for sending a small number of soldiers to the Arctic island following Trump’s threats.
“What good does it do if you send 30-40 soldiers to Greenland? What message does it send? What message does it send to Putin? To China? More importantly, what message does it send to Denmark?
“Either you declare that European bases will protect the region from Russia and China… or you run the risk of not being taken seriously because 30 or 40 soldiers won’t be able to protect anything.”
Zelenskyy suggested that other pressing issues were being put aside while European leaders were “waiting for America to calm down” in Greenland.
“There was a lot of talk about the protests in Iran, but they were drowned in blood. The world did not help the Iranian people enough,” he said.
