Volodymyr Zelenskyy Attacks ‘Lost And Fragmented’ Europe

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has lashed out at his European allies for not taking enough action over Russia’s continued war in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian president accused the continent of failing to “take the lead in defending freedom” while speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

He claimed Europe is a “fragmented kaleidoscope of small and middle powers” and looks “lost” as it tries to convince Donald Trump to force Moscow to end its four-year offensive.

“Instead of taking the lead in defending freedom worldwide, especially when America’s focus shifts elsewhere, Europe looks lost, trying to convince the US president to change,” he said.

“If Europe is not seen as a global force, if its actions do not scare bad actors, then Europe will always be catching up with new dangers and attacks.”

Trump has often promised to end the Ukraine-Russia war, but – a year after he returned to office – peace still seems elusive.

Putin has been dragging his heels repeatedly over negotiations, even when the US president effectively offered Russia rewards for being the aggressor and invading Ukraine in 2022.

While Russia continues its grinding offensive and bombards Ukraine’s national infrastructure, Trump has repeatedly blamed Zelenskyy for the slow progress in negotiations.

The Ukrainian president also told WEF that Europe’s hesitation to act would have repercussions beyond Ukraine, emboldening other authoritarian regimes aside from the Kremlin.

“Who in Europe needs that message to become reality? And yet Europe has not even tried to build its own response,” Zelenskyy said.

He added: “Just last year, here in Davos, I ended my speech by saying Europe needs to know how to defend itself.

“A year has passed and nothing has changed. I am forced to say the same words again.”

He pointed out that in 2025, most of the time was spent discussing long-range weapons for Ukraine, but now “no one is even talking about it”.

He said: “Today they target Ukraine. Tomorrow, it could be any Nato country.”

Zelenskyy claimed he had a “productive and substantive” one-hour meeting with the US president at Davos – their first in-person conversation this year – but no fresh agreements seemed to emerge.

He also announced that a two-day trilateral meeting involving Ukraine, the US and Russia are set to start on January 23 in the United Arab Emirates.

Meanwhile, Trump’s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff are set to meet with Putin in Moscow on Thursday.