Zelensky Laces Into Europe, Saying It Must Step Up or Be Left Behind

The Ukrainian leader’s speech in Davos, Switzerland, was one of his most scathing critiques of his closest allies.President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine delivered a blunt speech in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday.Credit...Fabrice Coffrini/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesJan. 22, 2026Updated 12:53 p.m. ETPresident Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine used a blunt speech before the world’s political and business elites on Thursday to take aim at European countries, denouncing their inability to stop Russia’s aggression and their timid response to President Trump’s threat to seize Greenland.Mr. Zelensky’s speech, delivered at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, was among his most scathing critiques of Europe. It was unexpected, given that the continent has become Ukraine’s most reliable ally as the Trump administration has stepped back from supporting Kyiv’s war effort.The address amounted to a call to action for a continent he portrayed as unprepared for a world growing more dangerous by the day. He warned that Europe must unite and step up or risk being left behind in an increasingly competitive global order.Ukraine has a direct interest in Europe’s long-term strength, as Kyiv seeks to tie its own future to the continent’s by pursuing membership in the European Union. Mr. Zelensky has argued that Europe’s fate is also tied to Ukraine’s, with a revanchist Russia on its doorstep.“Instead of becoming a truly global power, Europe remains a beautiful but fragmented kaleidoscope of small and middle powers,” Mr. Zelensky said on Thursday afternoon. “Instead of taking the lead in defending freedom worldwide, especially when America’s focus shifts elsewhere, Europe looks lost, trying to convince the U.S. president to change. But he will not change.”It had been unclear just a couple of days ago whether Mr. Zelensky would even appear in Davos. He said earlier in the week that he would attend only if “real results for Ukraine” were on the table, fueling expectations that a deal on a postwar recovery plan or security guarantees might be reached.No such agreement materialized on Thursday. Mr. Zelensky met with Mr. Trump, and both leaders described their talks as “good.”But with peace in Ukraine seemingly no closer at hand, Mr. Zelensky then turned to imploring Europe to do more to fill the vacuum left by Mr. Trump in sustaining the post-World War II global order.His remarks risked straining Ukraine’s alliance with a continent that has remained a steadfast source of financial, humanitarian and military support throughout the war, especially after the United States under Mr. Trump disengaged from Ukraine.Mr. Zelensky’s speech offered an unfiltered list of what he saw as Europe’s failures to assert geopolitical strength compared with the United States, which he said had acted forcefully.He noted that while there were “different opinions” about the U.S. military operation in Venezuela to capture its leader, Nicolás Maduro, “the fact remains: Maduro is on trial in New York.”“Sorry, but Putin is not on trial,” he added, referring to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.Mr. Zelensky also contrasted U.S. actions against oil tankers linked to Venezuela and Russia with Europe’s limited enforcement against Russia’s so‑called shadow fleet of tankers that ferry oil under false flags to help Moscow evade sanctions.Constant Méheut reports on the war in Ukraine, including battlefield developments, attacks on civilian centers and how the war is affecting its people.SKIP Site IndexNewsHome PageU.S.WorldPoliticsNew YorkEducationSportsBusinessTechScienceWeatherThe Great ReadObituariesHeadwayVisual InvestigationsThe MagazineArtsBook ReviewBest Sellers Book ListDanceMoviesMusicPop CultureTelevisionTheaterVisual ArtsLifestyleHealthWellFoodRestaurant ReviewsLoveTravelStyleFashionReal EstateT MagazineOpinionToday's OpinionColumnistsEditorialsGuest EssaysOp-DocsLettersSunday OpinionOpinion VideoOpinion AudioMoreAudioGamesCookingWirecutterThe AthleticJobsVideoGraphicsTrendingLive EventsCorrectionsReader CenterTimesMachineThe Learning NetworkSchool of The NYTinEducationAccountSubscribeManage My AccountHome DeliveryGift SubscriptionsGroup SubscriptionsGift ArticlesEmail NewslettersNYT LicensingReplica EditionTimes Store