For the first time since the start of Russia's invasion, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has attended the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, in person.
The Guardian reported that Zelenskyy has spoken at the Davos event by video link in previous years, and his decision to appear this year in person indicates concern in Ukraine that the West has grown weary of supporting Kyiv in its war.
Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy Lashes Out at Russia's Vladimir Putin at Davos
According to the Associated Press, as he spoke at the WEF meeting on Tuesday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy came out swinging against Russian leader Vladimir Putin while urging political and business leaders to help rebuild Ukraine, to support his country's war against Russia by enforcing sanctions, and to advance the peace process.
As he tried to keep his country's long-stalemated defense against Russia on the minds of the attendees amid Israel's war with Hamas that siphoned off much of the world's attention, Zelenskyy said Putin must live to regret beginning the war with Ukraine almost two years ago that will eventually affect the entire world.
"If anybody thinks this is just about Ukraine they are fundamentally mistaken... Possible directions and even timeline of a new Russian aggression beyond Ukraine become more and more obvious," Zelenskyy noted.
"One man has stolen at least 13 years of peace, replacing them with pain, pain, pain, and crisis that impact the entire world," he added as he referred to the conflict that began with the Kremlin's annexation of Crimea in 2014.
The Ukrainian president also said Putin would only respond to military defeat and doubted that "freezing the war in Ukraine" would end the conflict as the attempts to freeze the war in eastern Ukraine's Donbas after 2014 did not fully satisfy Russia's appetite, the Guardian reported.
"Putin is a predator who is not satisfied by frozen products. We have to defend ourselves. We can beat him on the ground, in the air, and at sea - and we have proved it," Zelenskyy noted.
"We need him to lose. Global unity is stronger than one man's hatred," he added.
Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy Urged Leaders to Tighten Economic Sanctions on Russia
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has invited other world leaders to join in tightening economic sanctions on Russia to weaken its arms industry. He noted: "In every Russian missile, there are critical components from Western countries. Dozens of components in every missile. And it's true. It's a fact."
"Of course, I am grateful for each package of sanctions. Thanks, partners... But bringing peace closer will be a reward for all those who care to ensure that sanctions work one hundred percent," he added.
Zelenskyy also made a pitch for the chief executives in Davos to give the investment needed to rebuild Ukraine's war-ravaged economy.
"Strengthen our economy, and we will strengthen your security," he noted.
Join the Conversation