Get out of Greenland mode and stand up for yourself, Zelenskyy tells Europe

January 22, 2026

TL;DR

Zelenskyy accused European leaders at Davos of being in "Greenland mode," passively waiting for U.S. leadership instead of acting on geopolitical crises.
He called for Europe to develop its own defense capabilities and a "united armed forces" to protect the continent.
Zelenskyy urged greater pressure on the Kremlin and highlighted Europe's vulnerability to Russian aggression, questioning NATO's response capabilities without U.S. commitment.
He criticized the focus on the U.S. interest in Greenland, suggesting it distracted from the war in Ukraine and European security.
Zelenskyy offered Ukraine's assistance in defending Greenland against potential Russian naval threats, drawing a parallel to its defense near Crimea.
He called for Europe to play a more active role in targeting Russia's "shadow fleet" and bypassing sanctions.
The speech took place as Russia intensified attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, causing power and heating outages in Kyiv and other cities.
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff was scheduled to meet Vladimir Putin to advance peace talks, with Zelenskyy suggesting Ukraine would join U.S. peace initiatives only after the war ends.
Trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. were planned in the UAE, marking the first such meeting since the 2022 invasion.
Zelenskyy expressed that a peace deal requires Russia to be ready for compromises, not just Ukraine.

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