Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used a Davos address on Thursday to urge European countries to strengthen their own security posture, arguing that Europe risks appearing “lost” if it concentrates on trying to influence U.S. President Donald Trump rather than building credible military capacity to deter Russia and other threats.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, after meeting privately with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the gathering.
The Trump–Zelenskyy meeting was held behind closed doors and was described publicly as positive by both leaders. Trump told reporters afterward that the meeting was “good,” while Zelenskyy characterized the talks as “productive and meaningful,” according to reporting from major outlets.
In his Davos remarks, Zelenskyy criticized what he portrayed as Europe’s habit of waiting for Washington to set direction on security matters. He said Europe appeared “lost” and argued that the continent still felt “more like a geography, history, a tradition, not a real political force, not a great power.”
Zelenskyy likened his repeated warnings to a “Groundhog Day” cycle—referencing the 1993 film—in which he said he has been compelled to restate the same message. “Just last year, here in Davos, I ended my speech with the words: Europe needs to know how to defend itself. A year has passed. And nothing has changed,” he said.
He urged European governments to move faster on defense spending and industrial capacity, and he pressed them to take tougher action against Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers that helps Moscow continue exporting oil despite sanctions. In remarks carried by Ukrainian outlets, Zelenskyy argued that Russian oil transported near European coasts continues to fund the war against Ukraine and contribute to instability in Europe, and he suggested Europe should be prepared to stop and confiscate such shipments.
Zelenskyy also pointed to recent U.S. actions against Venezuela’s sanctioned oil trade as a contrast. Several outlets have reported that U.S. authorities seized at least one tanker linked to sanctioned Venezuelan oil in December 2025. Zelenskyy referenced these measures when questioning why Europe could not act with similar resolve against vessels carrying Russian oil.
Separately, Zelenskyy criticized what he described as a token European military presence connected to Greenland, saying that sending “30 or 40 soldiers” for exercises would not deter major adversaries. “What message does it send to Putin? To China? And even more importantly, what message does it send to Denmark?” he asked, arguing that Europe should either establish credible defenses for strategic regions or risk not being taken seriously.
Zelenskyy again floated the idea of deeper European military integration, calling for “united armed forces” capable of defending Europe. He also warned against overreliance on assumptions about U.S. leadership in a crisis, arguing that Europe needs to be prepared to act decisively even if Washington’s priorities shift.
