There’s a New Global Leader in the Room: Zelenskyy

One theme was quite obvious in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s single-minded, prophetic speech today at the Davos World Economic Forum: Europe must evolve from being a cute continent of small countries to a formidable, united geo-political and military force that is capable of keeping unceasingly aggressive and dangerous Russia confined to its borders.

Motivated by his country’s four-year existential war against Russian aggression as well President Donald Trump’s vision of new world order of his design, Zelenskyy observed with thoughts of the future “Right now, all eyes are on Washington. But who’s actually watching Europe at the moment? That’s the key question for Europe. And it’s not just about ideas. It’s about people, first of all. It’s about how they’ll live in a world that’s constantly changing.”

Noting sarcastically at the outset that the world is caught in a “Groundhog Day” syndrome where war, peace, threats constantly rotate ad nauseum, the Ukrainian president asked “Most of the world’s now thinking – so, what’s going happen to their relationship with America? What will happen to alliances? To support? To trade? How does President Trump plan to end wars? But no-one is asking these kinds of questions about Europe. And we need to be honest about that.” Zelenskyy’s rhetorical reply is that Europe must take the lead in defending its territory from the Russian border to the Atlantic Ocean.

“Washington does not believe Europe can bring them something that is really substantial,” Zelenskyy claimed. Will President Trump even notice Europe? Does he see NATO as necessary? And will he respect EU institutions?”

In this pre-global conflagration, Zelenskyy posed a daring challenge: “Ladies and gentlemen, Europe can’t afford to be second or third in line for its allies. If that happens, the world will start moving forward without Europe, and that’s a world that will not be comfortable or beneficial for all Europeans.

Europe needs to compete for the top spot in priorities, alliances and technological development.

We’re at yet another turning point, which some see as a problem for Europe, but others call a chance. Europe must establish itself as a strong global player; as an indispensable player.”

Alluding to his recent calls for the establishment of a European army, Zelenskyy said “Europe needs to know how to defend itself.”

Zelenskyy continued “Next point. I’ve said it before, and I’ll repeat it again: Europe needs united armed forces – forces that can truly defend Europe. Today, Europe relies only on the belief that if danger comes, NATO will act. But no one has really seen the Alliance in action. If Putin decides to take Lithuania or strike Poland, who will respond? Who will respond?

“Right now, NATO exists thanks to belief – belief that the United States will act, that it will not stand aside, and will help. But what if it doesn’t?

“Believe me, this question is… It’s everywhere, in the minds of every European leader. And some try to get closer to President Trump. It’s true. Some wait – hoping the problem will disappear. Some have started acting – investing in weapons production, and et cetera, building partnerships, getting public support for higher defense spending…”

Furthermore, the danger posed by imperial Russia is enhanced by a clear boundary like the one enjoyed by the United States. “Let’s not forget – there’s no ocean separating European countries from Russia. And European leaders should remember this – battles involving North Korean soldiers are now happening in places geographically closer to Davos than to Pyongyang,” he said.

Russia is turning in a version of despotic North Korea and its economic potential is smaller than Europe’s, Zelenskyy said the evil Empire produces several times more ammunition and military equipment than all of Europe combined. “That’s exactly the path of wars Moscow chooses to take,” he said.

Russia has already signed comprehensive military treaties with North Korea and Iran that will be used against Europe and America – “all of us,” Zelenskyy warned.

“We must not forget about it. It is not by chance. These are their strategic priorities, and our priorities must match the challenge – in politics, and in defense, and in economy,” he advised.

This also pertains to the armed forces. Zelenskyy said Russia has about 1.3-1.5 million troops. Ukraine has more than 800,000 in its military but they’re dedicated to fighting Russia. Second comes France with over 200,000; then Germany, Italy and the UK. “Everyone else has less. This isn’t a situation where one country can secure itself alone. It’s about all of us standing together to mean something,” he said.

The Ukrainian president said it’s not clear whether Europe will even have a seat at the table when the war against Ukraine country ends.

“We see how much influence China has on Russia and we are deeply grateful to Europe for all the support it’s given our country during this war. But will President Trump listen to Europe, or will he negotiate with Russia and China without Europe? Europe needs to learn how to fully take care of itself, so that the world can’t afford to ignore it,” Zelenskyy said.

The Ukrainian president reminded the assemblage of the defense of Greenland and Ukraine’s participation. “You either declare that European bases will protect the region from Russia and China – and establish those bases – or you risk not being taken seriously because 30 or 40 soldiers won’t protect anything.

“And we know what to do. If Russian warships are sailing freely around Greenland, Ukraine can help – we have the expertise and weapons to ensure not one of those ships remains. They can sink near Greenland just as they do near Crimea. No problem – we have the tools, and we have people.”

With unity in Europe being a maintain ingredient, because the world cares about Europe as a whole, Zelenskyy said “We need a united European security and defense policy, and all European countries must be willing, willing to spend as much on security as is truly needed – not just as much as they’ve gotten used to during years of neglect.”

Zelenskyy bemoaned the fact that Europeans turn against each other – “leaders, parties, movements, and communities – instead of standing together to stop Russia, which brings the same destruction to everyone.” Instead of becoming a truly global power, Zelenskyy said “Europe remains a beautiful but fragmented kaleidoscope of small and middle powers. 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.

“President Trump loves who he is. And he says he loves Europe. But he will not listen to this kind of Europe. One of the biggest problems in today’s Europe – though it’s not often talked about – is the mindset. Some European leaders are from Europe, but not always for Europe. And Europe still feels more like a geography, a history, a tradition – not a real political force, not a great power.”

A united mindset must also be evident in joint actions against aggressors like Russia and punishments. For example, he continued, “But when the time came to use those assets to defend against Russian aggression, the decision was blocked. Putin managed to stop Europe. Unfortunately.”

It is unfortunate that the international community and America has been purposefully silent about the International Criminal Court, saying it’s an American historical position. Simultaneously, there has been no real progress on establishing a Special Tribunal for Russian aggression against Ukraine, against the Ukrainian people. And we have an agreement – it’s true. “Many meetings have taken place. But still, Europe hasn’t reached even the point of having a home for the Tribunal – with staff and actual work happening inside. What’s missing – time or political will? Too often in Europe, something else is always more urgent than justice,” he said.

And punishment. In the Western Hemisphere, Zelenskyy reminded the audience President Trump led an operation in Venezuela. “And Maduro was arrested. And there were different opinions, but the fact remains: Maduro is on trial in New York.

However, Sorry, but Putin – an international war criminal – is not on trial. And this is the fourth year of the biggest war in Europe since World War II – and the man who started it is not only free, he’s still fighting for his frozen money in Europe. And you know what? He’s having some success. It’s true.”

He revealed that Kyiv has already set-up models of cooperation for Ukraine’s defense that can make Europe stronger. “We’re building drones together – including some totally unique ones that no-one else in the world has. We’re producing artillery together – and in Ukraine, it’s much cheaper and faster than in any other country in the world,” he continued.

Investing in Ukrainian drones’ production is investing not only in security of Europe but the ability of Europe to be a security guarantor for other vital regions, he elaborated. Furthermore, he urged, Europe needs to build air defense systems together – ones that can deal with all types of cruise and ballistic missiles. Capitalizing on an Israeli concept that has lately been repeated by President Trump, Zelenskyy said Europe needs its own version of the Iron Dome, “something that can deal with any kind of threat.”

Energy is another vital ingredient and European countries cannot be dependent on a single energy supplier, especially not Russia. “Right now, things are on our side – President Trump is going to export more energy. “But Europe needs to step up and do more long-term work to secure real energy independence. You can’t keep buying gas from Moscow while also expecting security guarantees, help, and backup from the Americans. That’s just wrong.”

Europe’s participation in peace talks should not be relegated to social media, Zelenskyy said, but rather Europe must have a seat at the table when deals about war and peace are made: “Europe deserves to be more than just a bystander, with its leaders reduced to posting on X after an agreement has already been made. Europe needs to shape the terms of those deals.”

He urged European lead in weapons production and technological development and “Europe must become the most attractive market in the world – and that’s achievable.”

With wars erupting around the world, Zelenskyy said Europe must be able to guarantee peace and security for everybody in the world who matter to Europe.

“Europe deserves to be strong. And for this, Europe needs the EU and NATO. Is this possible without Ukraine and without a just end to Russia’s war against Ukraine? I’m certain the answer is ‘no,’” he continued.

“Only real security guarantees for us will serve as real security guarantees for everyone in Europe. And we must ensure that America also sees us as essential. For that to happen, America’s focus must shift to Europe. So that one day, in Washington, they will say – all eyes on Europe. And not because of war, but because of the opportunities in Europe,” Zelenskyy explained.

“Hundreds of millions of people visit Europe to see its landmarks, to learn from its cultural heritage. Millions in the world dream of living like the Europeans do. Will we be able to keep it and pass it to our children? If we in Europe can answer positively, America will need Europe as well as other global players. Europe must shape history for itself and its allies to remain not just relevant, but alive and great."

With this speech, President Zelenskyy not only possesses the distinction of being a heroic national leader, keeping at bay its vicious enemy Russia, but he’s also a leading global visionary player in building a new democratic, secure, prosperous world.

Not a Novel Idea but a Vital One – European Army

With President Donald Trump belittling the NATO alliance, European military and political leaders are reheating the idea of a European Army that would serve purpose except without the fair weather-United States.

“The idea of a common European army has been discussed continuously since the European project began in the early days of the Cold War. The Eisenhower administration even successfully cajoled European leaders to agree to create a common European army only to be thwarted by the French parliament. The European project was a few votes from launching as a military project rather than an economic one. The idea of a common European force was revived in the 1990s as the European Union was formed, but the concept lost favor due to U.S. opposition and commitment to NATO,” Max Bergmann, director, Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program and Stuart Center wrote on the Center for Strategic and International Studies website last year.

Eurocorps, another example, is an autonomous military force of France, Germany (founding states), Belgium, Spain, Luxembourg, Poland (framework states), Austria, Greece, Italy, Romania and Turkey (associate members) whose aim is to maintain common headquarters and command of selected national military units, up to 65,000 personnel.

The soldiers of Eurocorps are provided by their respective nations. The missions of the Eurocorps are generally assigned under the United Nations, the European Union (EU), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, under the European Union Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), or pursuant to a joint decision taken by the contracting parties. According to a separate agreement, Eurocorps forces can be put under the command of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

The Polish-Lithuanian-Ukrainian Brigade is another example.

The idea of a European army was first discussed in the 1950s. It was proposed by France and would have consisted of the “inner six” countries (Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany), in order to strengthen defense against the Soviet threat without directly rearming Germany in the wake of World War II. In 1952 the Treaty establishing the European Defense Community was signed but not ratified by the signatories.

However, during the Cold War, Western Europe relied on NATO for defense, precluding the development of European cooperation. Immediately after the “fall of communism,” the defense apparatus was preoccupied by NATO expansion into the former Soviet bloc. The idea of a European army gained popularity after the September 11 attacks and NATO's involvement in conflicts outside of Europe. In a phenomenon dubbed diversification of European security, NATO has come to be responsible for "hard" threats while the European Union has taken a greater role in "soft" threats, including peacekeeping in the western Balkans. The 2009 Treaty of Lisbon also has furthered defense integration within the EU. This has led to support for a European Defense Union, which would be a step higher in collaboration than the current Common Security and Defense Policy.

Today, the threat to global peace, security, independence and sovereignty posed by Russia still exists.

European Union Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius has said earlier this year that the bloc should consider establishing a standing military force of 100,000 troops and overhaul the political processes governing defense because one army is better than a dozen armies.

Faced with Russian aggression and the U.S. shifting its focus away from Europe and threatening Greenland, Kubilius argued for a “big bang” approach to re-imagining Europe’s common defense.

“Would the United States be militarily stronger if they would have 50 armies on the States level instead of a single federal army,” he said at a Swedish security conference on Sunday. “Fifty state defense policies and defense budgets on the states level, instead of a single federal defense policy and budget?”

“If our answer is 'no,’ [the] USA would not be stronger, then — what are we waiting for?”

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, whose country is the only one to be facing real bloody Russian aggression, the kind foreseen in the NATO principles, on January 20 reiterated his call for the creation of a joint European armed force of at least 3 million personnel.

“Russia plans to have an army of 2 to 2.5 million personnel by 2030. So a European army, while each country keeps its own sovereign forces, must be able to respond. It should be no smaller than 3 million,” Zelenskyy told journalists.

Zelenskyy’s statement comes nearly a year after he first called on European partners to create a new armed force at the Munich Security Conference on February 15, 2025, amid uncertainty over further U.S. support if Russian aggression escalates. Unfortunately, European leaders have taken no steps toward implementing the initiative in nearly a year, according to Zelenskyy.

“Maybe now, with all the new challenges, European leaders will take it more seriously,” the president added.

Zelenskyy said the newly created army would not aim to compete with the U.S. and would not require dissolving NATO. He added that Ukraine could become a cornerstone of such a force due to its combat experience, as well as its military technology and logistics expertise.

“Because we have real wartime experience, we share our technologies with our partners. They give us intelligence — for example, France provides intelligence, and other countries do as well,” Zelenskyy said.

Merciless Russian Bombardment of Ukraine Continues 

Russia mercilessly bombarded Ukraine with more than 300 drones and ballistic and cruise missiles in its latest nighttime attack on the Ukrainian power grid, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday.

Despite President Trump’s belief that he can end the nearly four-year Russian war against Ukraine, Moscow is giving no public sign that it’s willing to end the invasion anytime soon. 

The latest attack continues to target Ukraine’s energy grid by knocking out heating in sub-zero weather to more than 5,600 apartment buildings in the capital, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Nearly 80% of the affected buildings had recently had their heating supply restored after a major Russian barrage on Jan. 9 that plunged thousands of people into a dayslong blackout, he said. 

Ukraine is enduring one of its coldest winters for years, with temperatures in Kyiv falling to minus 20 C (minus 4 F).

At the same time, Russia has escalated its aerial attacks on the electricity supply, aiming to deny Ukrainians heat and running water and wear down their resistance almost four years after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022. 

Undeserved Recognition for Russian Fuhrer and His Henchman

Would you appoint Al Capone to be general manager of Fort Knox?

Would you name Adolf Hitler to be the spiritual leader of a synagogue?

Russian President Vladimir Putin, known for war crimes in Ukraine and elsewhere, and Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko have been invited to join President Donald J. Trump’s Board of Peace, the committee that will oversee the reconstruction of Gaza, his spokesman revealed on Monday, according to a variety of news sources including CNN.

The inherent conceptual contradiction defies morality and logic.

“This milestone perfectly aligns with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803 (2025), which endorsed President Trump’s Comprehensive Plan and welcomed the establishment of the Board of Peace. The Board of Peace will play an essential role in fulfilling all 20 points of the President’s plan, providing strategic oversight, mobilizing international resources, and ensuring accountability as Gaza transitions from conflict to peace and development,” the White House stated on January 16.

Speaking to reporters during a regular media briefing, Dmitry Peskov said: “President Putin also received through diplomatic channels an invitation to join this Board of Peace.” He said the Kremlin is now reviewing the invitation and “hoping to get more details from the US side.”

“President Putin has indeed received an offer through diplomatic channels to join this Board of Peace. We are currently studying all the details of this proposal,” Peskov said, according to Russian state media outlet TASS. "We hope to contact the U.S. side to clarify all the details."

Belarus’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed receiving an invitation, saying in a post on X that President Donald Trump sent Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko a letter proposing the country become a founding member of the Board of Peace.

"We are ready to take part in the activities of the Board of Peace, taking into account and hoping that this organization will expand its scope and authority far beyond the mandate proposed in the initiative," the ministry said.

Putin’s invitation comes at a time when Putin shows no sign of ending his war in Ukraine, in which hundreds of thousands have been killed and Russian troops have carried out atrocities against civilians. Putin has repeatedly rejected proposals of ceasefire along the current frontlines.

This distinction raises many questions. Are Trump and Putin allies and friends as they seem to be? Will Putin continue to instruct Trump on how he should react to international calamities? Will Ukraine fare better or worse? Will Trump continue to say that Russia threatens Greenland and the USA? Will international terrorists be absolved of their crimes?

Signs of discontent have already started to appear. Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee issued a statement on Sunday warning that the body proposed by Trump “would have a mandate wider than the implementation of the Gaza Peace Plan.”

“The United Nations has a unique mandate to maintain international peace and security, and the legitimacy to bring nations together to find common solutions to shared challenges. While it may be imperfect, the UN and the primacy of international law is more important now than ever,” she said in a statement.

Putin’s appointment to the board would mark an extraordinary return to the global stage for the Russian dictator, who has been mostly shunned from international cooperation projects since he ordered the latest full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The Kremlin’s obvious involvement in the conflict between Israel and Hamas has been limited, although it did offer to mediate soon after the war started, touting its ties to both Israel and Hamas. Members of the committee will receive a permanent seat if they pay $1 billion, according to a US official, who told CNN that, while there was no requirement to contribute funds to the board, members who do not make the $1 billion payment will have a three-year term. All funds raised will go toward rebuilding Gaza, the official said, adding that “there will not be exorbitant salaries and massive administrative bloat that plagues many other international organizations.”

Apparently dictators, murderers and cutthroats can buy their way into good graces of the international community.

Likening Putin to Hitler, Mississippi Lawmaker Calls for More Air Defense for Ukraine

Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, declared on the floor of the US Senate that “Putin should not achieve through negotiation what he has not managed to achieve on the battlefield.”

In his remarks, Wicker outlined on January 14 the key principles negotiations should center around, and commended President Trump for building consensus with our allies.

Read the Senator’s speech as delivered below:

Mr. President, we live in a dangerous time. There are a number of flashpoints all around the globe. In this hemisphere, in Europe, and the Indo-pacific. But I want to remind my colleagues today that, still, the most dangerous thing going on around the world today is Vladimir Putin’s war against freedom and the West in Ukraine. And I would point out that for the past year, Vladimir Putin has mocked the Ukraine peace process by steadily escalating his attacks on his neighboring country.  He’s recently launched the biggest air attack the conflict has ever seen and shown repeatedly that he is not interested in peace talks. He gives lip service to peace talks, but his acts show that he’s not interested.

Now, by contrast, in the last few weeks, the United States, Ukraine, and our European friends have come together on a common negotiating position centered on several key principles.

Here are the key points:

Ukraine should not be forced to give up the sovereign territory it deserves and it currently controls.

Also, Putin should not achieve through negotiation what he has not managed to achieve on the battlefield – and there have been great disappointments to Putin on the battlefield.

In addition, the United States should play a role in Ukraine’s security guarantees on a permanent basis. The Senate should ratify these security guarantees if they’re ever agreed to.

In the meantime, Mr. President, the Ukrainian people should be assisted in continuing to fight for their freedom.

I commend President Trump, President Zelenskyy, and European leaders for continuing to come together to reach a consensus.  As we seek to end this brutal, unprovoked war, I urge everyone in Washington, in Kyiv, in the great capitals of Europe to remain united and to remember who we are dealing with in the form and person of Vladimir Putin.

Vladimir Putin is unrepentant. He is ever, and will always be, the KGB agent.  He is a dictator with decades of bloodshed on his hands. He is the biggest thief in the history of the world, a war criminal who should be behind bars at this moment, Mr. President.  And of course, Putin is a liar.  When Vladimir Putin smiles to American negotiators, he acts as our friend, and he acts as if we believe he’s our friend.  We have no reason to smile back at Vladimir Putin or trust him with anything but caution and contempt. 

After four years, Putin knows a Russian victory is not inevitable.  More and more, the American people see this and know this.  A November poll found that 70 percent of Americans do not trust Putin to honor any peace agreement with Ukraine.  He is cut from the same cloth as terrorists all over the world and terrorists down through history.

In Putin’s attacks on civilians for example, we see parallels with the Hamas terrorists who rampaged through Israeli neighborhoods on October 7th.  The terrorists are Putin’s friends.

And don’t forget this, and sometimes it’s not publicized as it ought to be, Putin has abducted over 20,000 Ukrainian children and subjected many to brainwashing schemes.  In those horrors, we see the likes of Xi Jinping and his Uyghur re-education camps.  

Putin routinely locks dissidents in jail—just like his kindred spirits in other censorship regimes. This tyrant who wants to be treated as a peer in the world’s great halls of democracy should be known by the company he keeps. When the brutal Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad was toppled, thankfully, where did Bashar al-Assad run? He ran for safe haven to Moscow. That’s where he went to be under the protection of Vladimir Putin who seeks to make us believe that he is an honest negotiator.

Nicolas Maduro was wisely counseled to flee Venezuela.  If he had run, where would he have run, Mr. President? He would have run to Moscow.  For decades, Russia has been a friend to the murderous Cuban regime.  And now, as the Supreme Leader in Iran considers his options, where might he go for refuge?  The only place he could go is Moscow. So that’s the company Vladimir Putin keeps in the current day.

But Putin even echoes the likes of Adolf Hitler.  Putin routinely talks about—quote—“liberating” the Russian-speaking Ukrainians living in the Donbas, and other areas of Ukraine.  This is the same vile, absurd pretext that Adolf Hitler used when he invaded the German-speaking regions of neighboring countries including Poland. That’s who Vladimir Putin is.

Regrettably, the people of Russia are led brutally by Putin, this world-historical villain. Ukrainians will continue fighting against his unprovoked attacks, but not because they hate peace.  The Ukrainians continue to fight because their alternative is the extinction of their country.  The West needs to stand with them. We need to stand with Ukraine. 

And we must keep assisting our friends.  We need to send a clear message that Putin cannot wait us out.  In December, I'm grateful to say to my colleagues, that Congress overwhelmingly passed and President Donald Trump enthusiastically signed the National Defense Authorization Act.  That law extends the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative and our commitment to sharing intelligence with Ukraine. Good for the President, and good for our friends in the House and Senate.  

Our allies across the Atlantic are taking the lead now, as my colleague from Kentucky just pointed out, in financing security assistance for Ukraine. NATO allies are buying equipment from us in the United States and giving it to Ukraine. I certainly applaud that, as all Americans should

Mr. President, the U.S. should increase the air defenses and long-range strike capabilities that we are sending to Kyiv.  More than any other capabilities, these will help show Putin his military aims are not achievable. For nearly four years, Ukrainians have demonstrated their resolve. The West must continue to stand resolved with them.