Zelenskyy addresses the West in Davos, and urges the need for air superiority over Russia

Photo Courtesy: Valeriano Di Domenico, World Economic Forum

Last Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took to the podium at the World Economic Forum to stress the need for more support to end the war in Ukraine. Alluding to hesitation from allies, the President warned of a potential spread of Russian aggression regionally, pressing for continued sanctions and air superiority over Ukraine with the help of additional supplies.

In his speech, the President made mention of “mass deportations” of his citizens, a topical point among recent reports that of the thousands of deported Ukrainian children from Russian-occupied territories, some have been sent to Belarus to be trained in “survival camps”.

Zelenskyy’s pleas in Davos stand against a backdrop of a considerable decline in aid levels, especially from the U.S., one of its biggest benefactors. Due to political turmoil between Senate Republicans and Democrats over U.S. border policies and uncertainty over the extent to which Ukraine should be supported so as not to provoke an escalated response from Russia, pledges for military aid have waned. 

Emphasising the need for continued investment in Ukraine, President Zelenskyy also reassured listeners that the country’s economy has continued to grow at a rate of 5% despite the ongoing war. With a slow-down in assistance from world governments, Zelenskyy’s presence at the forum shows a change in tracks by attempting to persuade the private sector. It has been reported that the president met with the CEO of JPMorgan and other senior executives to discuss investment for rebuilding Ukraine and modernising the economy in the face of the war.

This latest appearance at the WEF comes amidst a list of other high-profile visits the President has been making since last year to rally continued support from allies across the world. Kicking off this year with a visit to the Baltics, he met with prime ministers and heads of state, who all put forward aid packages worth around $2 billion in total, providing Ukraine with additional munitions, missiles and other military equipment.