Volodímir Zelenski has once again asked its European allies for help, highlighting the need for a robust international contingent to ensure the security of Ukraine and the stability of any peace agreement with Russia.
During his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday, the Ukrainian president highlighted that, given the disproportion of forces between the Ukrainian and Russian armies, lhe presence of large numbers of foreign soldiers is essential to ensure that Russia meets the terms of any peace agreement.
“We need contingents with a very strong number of soldiersto secure any peace agreement. Of all Europeans? 200.00. It is the minimum. Otherwise, it’s nothing,” he said.
To defend his request, Zelensky warned of the risks of repeating past failures. He recalled that the monitoring mission led by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in eastern Ukraine, which existed before the Russian invasion in 2022, proved insufficient, disintegrating without being able to avoid Moscow’s aggression. “They had workshops and that was it,” he commented, reflecting the lack of a robust military presence to deter Vladimir Putin’s troops.
The Ukrainian leader also highlighted the importance of your country actively participating in any negotiating table to ensure your safety and prevent future invasions. Furthermore, he urged Europe to move towards a common defense policyemphasizing that European capitals should be prepared to increase their defense budgets at a time of growing global instability.
Lack of commitment from Trump
Finally, questioned Donald Trump’s commitment to NATO, suggesting that the US president’s stance may not be the strongest to guarantee Europe’s security: “Washington does not believe that Europe can contribute anything really substantial”. Therefore, he urged Europeans to guarantee their own security.
However, it was shown willing to meet with Trump to address the Russian invasion. “Our teams have been working to organize the meeting and are in that process”he stated, revealing that there had been “multiple conversations”, but acknowledging that there is still “no set date” for the meeting.
