Zelensky tries to rally support for Ukraine in Davos

by Tara Suter - 01/16/24 10:54 AM ET

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gestures after his speech at the Annual Meeting of World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. The annual meeting of the World Economic Forum is taking place in Davos from Jan. 15 until Jan. 19, 2024.(AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tried to rally support for his country Tuesday at the World Economic Forum’s meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

“Anyone thinks this is only about us, this is only about Ukraine, they are fundamentally mistaken,” Zelensky said in a speech, according to The Associated Press. “Possible directions and even timeline of a new Russian aggression beyond Ukraine become more and more obvious.”

The Ukrainian president said his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, “embodies war” and won’t change, per the AP.

“After Feb. 24, nothing harmed our coalition more than this concept. Every ‘Don’t escalate’ to us, sounded like ‘You will prevail’ to Putin,” Zelensky said.

Zelensky’s visit to Davos was the first he had made since the war in Ukraine began in 2022. He had previously spoken via video.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with Zelensky on Tuesday, according to a press release from the State Department.

“They discussed the importance of continued global assistance to support Ukraine as it fights for its freedom and sovereignty,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. “They also spoke about efforts to support Ukraine’s economic resilience and recovery, including through private sector investment.”

“The three additionally discussed ongoing anti-corruption reform efforts to bolster Ukraine’s economic recovery and continue its trajectory towards Euro-Atlantic integration,” Miller continued.

Miller also said Sullivan and Blinken “strongly reiterated the United States’ enduring support for Ukraine and its territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s illegal war of aggression.”

Last week, House Democrats pushed back against House Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) requests for heightened new border security measures in exchange for aid to Ukraine. The Speaker has said his caucus would be against new aid to the war-torn Eastern European country unless it came along with provisions from a previously passed GOP border bill.