Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos was one of the harshest of the entire war. In his speech, he openly stated that Europe was demonstrating indecision and unwillingness to act adequately in the face of Russian aggression, despite loud statements of support for Ukraine.
Zelensky recalled that a year ago, speaking in Davos, he called on European countries to learn to defend themselves independently. However, according to him, during this time the continent has not taken a decisive step from words to systemic actions. Europe, the president noted, is willing to discuss the future, but avoids difficult decisions in the present, sacrificing principles for the sake of short-term political compromises.
Zelenskyy separately touched on the topic of aid to Ukraine. He stated that much of the support from European countries came late and in amounts that did not correspond to the scale of the threat. In his opinion, tough rhetoric about Russia, sanctions, and security was often not backed up by real actions.
The President emphasized that a new world order cannot be built solely through declarations and promises unless they are backed up by concrete decisions.
Comparison with the US approach
One of the most poignant moments of the speech was the comparison of Europe's actions with the policies of the United States. Zelensky drew attention to the fact that the American administration was able to strike at Russian financial flows, in particular at the so-called shadow fleet, while Russian oil continues to be transported near European shores.
He also noted that the international justice system demonstrates selectivity: some authoritarian leaders are being held accountable, while the Russian president still avoids any real consequences.
The question of NATO's future
Amidst the debate over the role of the United States in the European security system, Zelensky questioned Europe's ability to act autonomously. He said the alliance largely rests on the assumption that the United States will always guarantee protection.
The president directly asked the question: what will happen if this confidence turns out to be false?
An attempt to "wake up" the allies
Critics note that such rhetoric may seem ungrateful given the large-scale assistance that Europe has provided to Ukraine since 2022. However, analysts note: after years of constant appeals and the need to literally fight for support, Zelenskyy's words look not as a reproach, but as a statement of reality.
The president also recalled pre-war promises regarding Ukraine's membership in the EU and NATO. Some of them, he said, have been postponed, and some have been effectively frozen, despite statements of support "as long as necessary.".
His speech in Davos was not an attempt to insult allies, but a harsh signal about the dangers of complacency. According to observers, it was an attempt to force Europe to view the war not as a distant crisis, but as an immediate challenge to its own security.
