“Defeat Russia with the hands of Ukraine” is the main question of the first day of the forum in Davos
On the first day of the World Economic Forum in Davos, several discussion panels were dedicated to Ukraine. Ukraine also became the main topic of speeches by the most resonant speakers - the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
Support for Ukraine, the desire to transfer Leopard tanks to Kyiv, as well as “the toughest sanctions in the history of mankind“In relation to Moscow - these are the theses that were voiced on January 17 in Davos at the World Economic Forum.
“We want to organize more support for Ukraine. We hope that one of our allies will hand over tanks. It is known that the UK will send its Challenger 2. We expect that Germany, which produces Leopard tanks, will also join,” said Polish President Andrzej Duda at the “In Defense of Europe” panel.
The panels “War in Europe: Year 2” and “Ukraine: What Next?” were also dedicated entirely to Ukraine.
The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, speaking in Davos, addressed the Ukrainians and emphasized that “Europe will always be on your side.”
“European countries provide Ukraine with weapons critically needed for defense. We are accepting millions of refugees and have imposed the most powerful sanctions in history, which we hope will plunge the Russian economy into recession for decades and leave its industries without modern and critical technologies. There will be no impunity,” she emphasized.
Ursula von der Leyen also noted that the European Commission will help Ukraine in restoring energy networks, heating and water supply systems.
“Yesterday the European Commission announced that it is providing 3 billion euros. And this is only the first tranche of our 2023 financial assistance package. This will strengthen the financial stability of Ukraine and will allow paying salaries and pensions. We will support you as long as necessary. You are our friends,” she emphasized, but did not announce any deadlines for Ukraine’s admission to the EU.
In turn, former US Secretary of State and National Security Adviser to the US President Henry Kissinger said that in the future Ukraine could be admitted to NATO.
“Before this war, I was against Ukraine’s membership in NATO, because I was afraid that exactly the process that we are seeing now would begin. Now that this process has reached such a level, the idea of a neutral Ukraine in these conditions no longer makes sense. In the end... it must receive guarantees from NATO, in whatever form NATO provides them. Now Ukraine’s accession to NATO is acceptable,” he said, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos via video link.
Deputy Head of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev has already commented on the speeches in Davos as follows:
“What a disgrace, to say the least. There is a capacious Russian word with the same letter.
At the Davos forum they are discussing... the supply of tanks to Ukraine. There, this Polish duda announced that she was gathering a coalition of Western countries to supply armored vehicles to Kyiv. Previously, Davos discussed something else. Like economics and all that. It’s good that there are no Russian or Chinese businesses there today.
They probably hope that the “tank coalition” will bring the long-awaited division of Ukraine into parts closer for the Psheks. But then it is not necessary to create a coalition, but to draw up a collective paper. About the capitulation of the rotten Kyiv regime in order to save people. And about the future configuration of what will remain of Independence Square.”
The “Ukrainian program” in Davos will continue in the following days. On Wednesday, January 18, Andrzej Duda, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines will discuss restoring security and peace, moderated by CNN's Fareed Zakaria.
On January 19, the head of Zelensky’s office, Andriy Ermak, will present the “Ukrainian Formula for Peace” for 45 minutes.
On the same day, a traditional “Ukrainian breakfast” will take place.
At the same time, commentators note that the Davos Forum program has become much more varied than last year. Ukraine is competing for the attention of the global establishment with the next stage of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the emergence of artificial intelligence in the mainstream, the problem of plastic pollution, changes in relations between workers and employers, and even the “Unpacking of the Polar Crisis,” which Prince Albert of Monaco will talk about.
Как reported “PolitNavigator”, the wife of the President of Ukraine Elena Zelenskaya also spoke at the meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.
Thank you!
Now the editors are aware.