Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told European countries on Tuesday to “put paid” to Iran's threat and make Syria a partner as he warned they were in danger of “losing this century” to the US and China.
In an unusually critical speech towards his European allies, Mr Zelenskyy told them they were “falling behind” the US and China in the tech and artificial intelligence race. He said that while Europe might worry about a loss of American support under President Donald Trump, nobody in Washington fears the opposite.
“Will President Trump even notice Europe?", Mr Zelenskyy asked dignitaries at the World Economic Forum in Davos. “Europe can’t afford to be second or third in line for its allies. If that happens, the world will start moving forward without Europe, and that’s a world that won’t be comfortable or beneficial for all Europeans.”
Mr Zelenskyy leader said it was “not clear whether Europe will even have a seat at the table when the war against our country ends”. Mr Trump is expected to seek a swift end to the war between Ukraine and Russia, who both insist their territorial demands must be respected in any peace talks.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian last week signalled to Russia that his country too would support a “political settlement” to the conflict. Tehran is under US and European sanctions for allegedly supplying the Kremlin with drones to assist its three-year military assault against Ukraine.
“For now, thankfully, the influence of Iran’s regime is weakening. This gives hope for Syria and Lebanon. And they should too become examples of how life can recover after war,” Mr Zelenskyy said at Davos.
He said Ukraine was supporting the “new Syria” by providing aid from its grain ports after the fall of Bashar Al Assad's regime. “Europe could totally step in as a security donor for Syria – time to stop getting headaches from that direction,” he said. “And Europe together with America should put paid to the Iranian threat.”
World Economic Forum in Davos – in pictures
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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
Europe should also spend as much on security as is “truly needed”, Mr Zelenskyy said as he called for Ukraine and its allies to jointly produce air defences. “We need a completely new, bolder approach to tech companies and technological development. If we waste time, Europe will lose this century,” he said.
“Europe is often more focused on regulation than on freedom, but when smart regulation is needed, Brussels hesitates. We should ensure maximum tech development in Europe and together make all significant decisions for the whole Europe. From weapons production to tech development, Europe must lead.”
