Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump in the Vatican basilica, April 26, 2025

Wednesday’s Coverage: Zelensky — I’ll Go to Davos…But Only If Air Defenses Are Discussed

UPDATE 1814 GMT:

Speaking with journalists, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Ukraine-Europe document on US security guarantees for Kyiv is “finished”; however, it still needs to be formally signed by Donald Trump and him and to be confirmed by the Ukrainian Parliament and the US Congress.

He said the business deal with the US is progressing and will be helpful for reconstruction.

The remaining issue with Russia, and “the most difficult”, is “all about the eastern part of our country”. The trilateral Ukraine-Russia-US meeting in the UAE (see 1718 GMT) will discuss different “variants”.

UPDATE 1756 GMT:

President Emmanuel Macron says the French Navy has boarded a Russian tanker.

Local maritime authorities said the navy seized the tanker “Grinch” between Spain and Morocco.

Macron posted, “A judicial investigation has been opened. The vessel has been diverted. We are determined to uphold international law and to ensure the effective enforcement of sanctions.”

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky responded:

UPDATE 1730 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has challenged European partners at the Davos World Economic Forum.

Everyone remembers the great American film Groundhog Day.

But no one would want to live like that, repeating the same thing for weeks, months, and of course years, and yet that’s exactly how we live now.

Europe needs to know how to defend itself…[but] a year has passed and nothing has changed.

The President emphasized, “This is the fourth year of the biggest war in Europe since the second world war. And the man who started it is not only free, he is still fighting for his frozen money in Europe.”

He warned of “some success” for Putin in the European Union’s inability to agree a €135 billion ($158.5 billion) “reparations loans” drawn from frozen assets.

He also noted little progress on establishing a special tribunal on Russian crimes in Ukraine:

Many meetings have taken place, but still, Europe hasn’t reached even the point of having a home for the tribunal with staff and actual work happening inside.

What’s missing is time or political will; too often in Europe something else is always more urgent than justice….

Europe loves to discuss the future, but avoids taking action today, action that will define what kind of future we will have.

In a week where the Trump camp has threatened US-Europe relations, Zelensky chided:

If Putin decides to take Lithuania or strike Poland, who will respond? Right now, NATO exists thanks to believe that the United States will act, that it will not stand aside and will help. But what if it doesn’t?

Some European leaders “hope the problem will disappear”. While others start acting, but “it’s only thanks to the US that they are actually ramping up defense and security arrangements”.

Calling for more sanctions on Russia, he said, “If Europe is not seen as a global force, if its actions don’t scare bad actors, then Europe will always be reacting, catching up with new dangers and attacks.”

Turning to Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure — “it tries to freeze Ukrainians now” — he criticized, “Europe says almost nothing. America says nothing, and Putin makes missiles.”

While seeking support for Ukraine, he noted, “Would it not be cheaper and easier to just cut Russia off the components it needs for missile production or even destroy the factories making them?”

Picking up on statements by European and Canadian leaders about the demise of the international order, he asked:

We need something to replace the old world order, but where is the line of leaders who are ready to act?…

You can’t build a new world order out of words only – actions create real order….

We should not accept that Europe is just a salad of small and middle powers, seasoned with enemies of Europe.

UPDATE 1718 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky says a trilateral Ukraine-Russia-US meeting has been scheduled for Friday in Abu Dhabi in the UAE.

Zelensky said high-level Ukrainian and Russian delegations will be joined by Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

The Ukrainian delegation will include Zelensky’s Chief of Staff Kyrill Budanov; Presidential Deputy Head Serhii Kyslytsia; and Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov.

The Russians include Vladimir Putin’s senior financial advisor Kirill Dmitriev, who has worked closely with Witkoff and Kushner, and Russia’s head of military intelligence.

EA sources in Ukraine caution that the Kremlin has not yet confirmed the meeting.

Zelensky told the Davos World Economic Forum that he had a “good” and “positive” meeting with Donald Trump.

He hoped they were moving towards peace, but the “last mile” is always “very difficult”.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: At a crucial time for proposals to end Russia’s four-year full-scale invasion, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet Donald Trump in Davos, Switzerland on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin will host Trump’s envoys, real estate developer Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, at the Kremlin.

Zelensky had said on Tuesday night that he would only go to Davos’ World Economic Forum for meaningful discussion on air defenses, weapons, and equipment for recovery and reserves.

Amid the energy crisis from Russia’s missile and drone attacks on infrastructure, the President said:

Undoubtedly, I choose Ukraine in this case, rather than the Economic Forum, but everything can change at any moment.

Meetings with America should always end with concrete results to strengthen Ukraine or to move closer to ending the war. And if the documents are ready, we will meet.

But on Wednesday, Trump suddenly announced in Davos that he was meeting Zelensky later in the day. Officials later clarified that the encounter will be on Thursday.

Neither Trump nor the officials referred to the status of the Ukraine-Europe proposals to end the invasion and defend Kyiv.

More than two months of discussions, including with US officials, pushed back a 28-point ultimatum to Ukraine developed by Putin’s senior advisor Kirill Dmitriev with Witkoff and Kushner in late October.

The Ukraine-Europe documents have established a security guarantee for Kyiv, with US participation, and a demilitarized free economic zone to rebuff Russia’s demand for all of the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine. The process for Ukrainian recovery and reconstruction is also set out.

Witkoff and Kushner have been involved in the talks with the Ukrainians and Europeans from Paris to Berlin to Miami. However, the real estate developer has promoted the Kremlin’s demands since early 2025.

They met Dmitriev in Davos on Tuesday. There was no mention of the Ukraine-Europe proposals as Witkoff said, “I think everybody is embedded in the process and wants to see a peace deal happen.”

Dmitriev insisted that “more and more people are understanding the correctness” of Russia’s position.

Ukraine’s Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Rustem Umerov said he met Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Davos on Wednesday. Umerov said the talks focused on security guarantees and post-war recovery, with a Ukrainian delegation meeting representatives of the US investment firm Blackrock.

Putin said he will discuss the use of around €300 billion ($350 billion) of frozen Russian assets with the US envoys.

Europe holds around 70% of the assets. In December, the European Union came close to agreeing a “reparations loan” based on the assets. It held off because of objections by Belgium, which holds most of the assets, and instead financed a €90 billion loan to Kyiv into 2027.

Putin said he wants to use the assets to restore territories “damaged during military actions”, without specifying if these are Ukrainian or Russian-occupied areas.

He also declared, in response to Trump’s invitation to join a “Board of Peace” for Gaza, “Given the special relationship with the Palestinian people, Russia could direct $1 billion from Russian assets frozen under the previous US administration” to the scheme.