Zelenskyy counts on EU allies to explain risks in talks with Putin to Trump

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy hopes to have the support of Ukraine's European allies in explaining to US President Donald Trump the risks of agreeing to the demands that Moscow is expected to make in potential talks to end the war.

"We have a very good relationship with President Trump. But today, we have such a pragmatic time," Zelenskyy said during his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

"It is very important for us that the extra voices that sometimes surround President Trump convey disinformation or a pro-Russian position.... It is important for us that Europe is loud, that it is heard, that there are more voices around Trump. So that he clearly understands the details and the risks that may be in the future. And very quickly," he said.

In particular, Zelenskyy is convinced that if negotiations on ending the war begin, Putin will demand that Ukraine significantly reduce its army and give up its NATO membership.

"Trump told me and then spoke publicly about it... he will do everything to end the war this year. I told him that we were his partner. We are in this war, we know all the painful places. We understand how painful it is for us, we lost our people (this is the biggest loss for us). We want to end the war this year, but not just quickly, but fairly and, above all, reliably for all of us, for Ukrainians. We want them to return home, live in safety, and work," he said.

In his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that it is time for Europe to take its destiny into its own hands and become stronger and more capable of being as valuable an ally for the United States as the United States is for Europe.

Zelenskyy said that European states should not try to cut costs on their security and indirectly supported the call of new US President Donald Trump to increase NATO allies' defence spending to 5% of GDP.

Zelenskyy also stressed that if Ukraine does not receive reliable guarantees that would deter Russia from new aggression, a new attack would be many times more dangerous for the whole of Europe.