Volodymyr Zelensky's mistake. Instead of standing up to Trump, he criticized his friends in Europe
The World Economic Forum in Davos always shows what is most important in global politics. There were three speeches that stood out this year: Donald Trump, Mark Carney and Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump delivered an extremely anti-European speech against the continent that hosted him. His henchmen, Howard Lutnick and Scott Bessent, were even more vulgar. Lutnick even managed to get booed during a private dinner in the usually very cultured Davos. Their speeches highlighted the growing sense of alienation between Europe and the United States.
This gap will continue as long as Trump remains president of the United States. Even Europe's largest nationalist parties protested. After all, nationalists hate it when outsiders insult their country.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney surprised everyone with an exceptionally eloquent speech. He referred to Vaclav Havel, talking about how we must face the tormentor that is the United States today.
Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, January 20, 2026.EPA/GIAN EHRENZELLER / PAP
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke in a similar tone. They focused on Trump's calls for US annexation of Greenland, but the gist of their message was that Europe firmly opposes American aggression.
Apparently they were so effective that even before Trump left Davos he promised not to annex Greenland. However, given that Trump lies frequently, this cannot be taken for granted.
It's true, Europe supports Ukraine too slowly. But he supports her loyally
The biggest surprise for me was President Zelensky's speech. It was strong, well-constructed and honest.
Zelensky had to hire a new speechwriter. The main motive was to criticize Europe for acting too slowly – which is of course true – but it is Europe, unlike the USA, that strongly supports Ukraine. A month ago, the European Union promised Ukraine EUR 90 billion (approx. PLN 320 billion) over the next two years. Was it really wise to criticize your one true ally so harshly?
In turn, Zelensky's lack of criticism of the US made me very worried. Since Trump became president of the United States again, he has completely stopped financial and military aid to Ukraine. It's a huge disgrace, but Zelensky didn't even mention it.
Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, during the World Economic Forum in Davos, January 22, 2026.EPA/GIAN EHRENZELLER / PAP
Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, has traveled to Russia for meetings with Putin seven times, each lasting hours, but has never visited Ukraine. Trump constantly criticizes Zelensky, however Putin almost not at all or only slightly. Time and time again, Trump complains about corruption in Ukraine, but never about the corruption in Russia, although according to Transparency International, the problem in Russia is much more serious. It is obvious that Trump prefers Putin and Russia.
The most important lesson from this year's Davos is that Europe defeated Trump on Greenland because Europeans finally stopped flattering him and collectively criticized him. Zelensky did the opposite. He asked: Why can President Trump stop “shadow fleet” tankers and seize oil, but Europe cannot?
Trump stopped one tanker with Venezuelan oil and sold it, with the money transferred to an unknown bank account in Qatar. This was an isolated incident while Europe has significantly reduced imports of oil and gas from Russia and placed Russia's “shadow fleet” under sanctions — unlike the US under Trump.
Zelensky is right that “Russian oil should be stopped, confiscated and sold for the benefit of Europe,” but Europe is gradually moving towards this while Trump discusses new Arctic oil projects with Russia.
Europe supports Ukraine while Trump supports Putin. He showed this clearly during two votes in the UN General Assembly, voting with Russia against condemning its invasion of Ukraine. After returning to the presidency, Trump imposed almost no sanctions on Russia, apart from Rosneft and Lukoil – with exceptions – while Europe tightened sanctions and did much to limit financing of Putin's war against Ukraine.
It's better to criticize your opponents than your allies
Zelensky repeats the usual cliché: “No security guarantees work without the US.” Really? The Budapest Memorandum of December 1994 already showed that US “security guarantees” are worthless.
Listen to Trump! He constantly repeats that he would probably never do anything for his NATO allies. Trump's “security guarantees” are obviously worthless. Zelensky rightly notes: – Currently, NATO exists thanks to the belief… that the United States will respond… What if it does not respond?
Yes, Trump says outright that he probably wouldn't lift a finger. Zelensky knows this well and should realize that as long as Trump remains US president, the US will never help Ukraine against Russia.
US President Donald Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January 22, 2026.PAP/EPA/LAURENT GILLIERON / PAP
The more I read into Zelensky's speech, the more incoherent it seems to me. “Europe seems lost trying to convince the US president to change his position. But he will not change.” All this is true, but it also means that Ukraine can only count on European support. It's better to criticize your opponents (Trump) than your allies (all of Europe, except Orban).
The Ukrainian message should sound completely different:
- 1
We are sorry that the United States under Trump supports Russia and Putin, not Ukraine. We regret that the US has stopped all aid. We don't like the US trying to convince us to give our land to Russia.
- 2
We are grateful for all the financial and military assistance we receive from Europe – not only from the EU, but also from Norway and the UK. We need EUR 100 billion (approx. PLN 420 billion) of international support annually to function.
- 3
We want to become a full member of the European Union as soon as possible and we are ready to meet all the conditions set by the EU, as long as they do not involve costs that are unacceptable for a country devastated by war.
- 4
We encourage Europe to tighten sanctions against Russia to force it to end its military aggression against our country.
- 5
Ukraine may want to be crucial in Europe's military defense against Russia, but in return we call on Europe to stand with us against Russia.
