
Ukrainian President addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, urging Europe to take charge of its own security amid escalating Russian threats.
“Europe must establish itself as a strong global player”, - said Volodymyr Zelensky, adding that, while the US remains an indispensable ally, Washington doubts Europe’s ability to contribute meaningfully to global security.
He highlighted the imbalance in military capabilities, noting that Russia can deploy 1.5 million troops compared to Ukraine’s 800,000 and France’s 200,000.
The President called on European nations to unite against Russian aggression, warning that battles involving North Korean soldiers are now geographically closer to Davos than to Pyongyang. Despite having a smaller economy than Europe, Russia outpaces European nations in ammunition and military equipment production, a disparity Zelensky urged Europe to address collectively.
Zelensky also emphasized the growing strategic ties between Russia, Iran, and North Korea, describing them as threats to Europe, the U.S., and global stability: “These are their strategic priorities, and our priorities must meet this challenge - in politics, defense, and economics. We can only counter such threats together. Russia is evolving into a “North Korea-like state”, where human life holds no value, but nuclear weapons and hostility toward neighbors dominate its agenda”.