Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today described his dialogue with US President Donald Trump as "not simple" but effective, following a one-hour meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. Zelensky emphasized the ongoing efforts, stating, "We met US President Donald Trump, and delegations from both sides are working almost daily. It's not easy at all. Documents aimed at ending the conflict are almost complete."
Zelensky reiterated that while the dialogue was challenging, the meeting itself was productive. "We discussed documents and air defense capabilities," he stated, without providing further details. A key concern for Ukraine, Zelensky highlighted, is the need for robust security guarantees from the United States to prevent future attacks. He noted that while the United Kingdom and France are prepared to deploy forces on the ground, "President Trump's support is still essential. No security guarantee can be effective without US involvement."
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US President Donald Trump (right) and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in Davos, Switzerland on 22/1. *Photo: Reuters*
On the same day, President Trump reported a "good discussion" with President Zelensky but offered no specific details regarding their talks. Trump also announced that US special envoys would be in Moscow on 22/1 to meet President Vladimir Putin. When questioned about his message for the Russian President, the US leader responded concisely, "the war must end."
Zelensky had previously declared that his attendance at Davos was contingent on signing agreements with Trump concerning security guarantees and post-war reconstruction funding for Ukraine. However, there were no indications that the meeting yielded a breakthrough. The US and Ukrainian leaders have met approximately 6 times since Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.
Domestically, President Zelensky is currently grappling with an energy crisis. Russian attacks have left many areas in the capital Kyiv and other provinces without electricity and heating. Looking ahead, Zelensky confirmed that delegations from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States would hold their first tripartite meeting in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 23-24/1.
By Huyen Le (AFP, Reuters)
