CARLOS SEGOVIAThe Davos Special Envoy

Special Envoy Davos

Updated Tuesday,16January2024-15:34

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"I've never seen the room so full," World Economic Forum President Borge Brende encouraged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as he addressed the Davos auditorium. But the packed room and the long applause for the Ukrainian leader is one thing, and the suspense about the continuity of aid and investment in the country invaded by Russia in 2021 is another. "It's impressive, but we have to admit that this year there is hardly any talk of Ukraine," a senior executive at the Forum's meetings told this newspaper.

Zelensku needs to reverse that fatigue and has decided to include Davos in his trips abroad to try to secure Western support, both political and economic. When he took the floor, he complained to the audience about the loss of steam of the Allies in the war with Russia. He gave as examples of "Western weakness" that sanctions have not reached the production of missiles "in Russia" or "the nuclear energy industry".

"AndI welcome any sanctions package, but they have to work 100 percent. We cannot be satisfied," criticized the Ukrainian leader who asked the audience made up of heads of government and presidents of multinationals if their population is mobilized against the Russian aggressor, which, he insisted, does not stop in Ukraine. "Since 2014 there have been many attempts to freeze the war in Donbas. There have even been very influential guarantors like the German chancellor and the French president, but Putin is a predator, he's not going to settle for a frozen conflict," he said. And he assured that reducing the pressure on Putin "will only prolong the war for years." As a priority, he explained the need to "achieve air superiority" so that 2024 "is the year of a just peace". Zelensky is defending his peace plan in Davos, but he needs more pressure on Russia. "Putin loves money, the more money he loses, the more he will regret this war."

The good news for Zelensky in Davos is that both European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken assured him in bilateral meetings that outstanding economic aid for Ukraine will be unblocked soon. "I think it's a matter of weeks. I have received positive signs," the Ukrainian head of state said.

Both in front of the audience and in a previous meeting with some 70 executives of large companies and banks from around the world, Zelenski assured that the Ukrainian economy grew by more than 5% last year, and encouraged them to invest in the country and thus contribute to overcoming the effects of the Russian invasion.

"It is important to be in Ukraine, increase investments and support our economy," Zelenski said at the meeting, which was attended by European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and several leaders of the Ukrainian president's administration, according to Efe.

Zelensky addressed senior officials at the investment bank J.P. Morgan and other major international investors to convey that "attracting private capital to rebuild Ukraine is important for us."

"We are confident that J.P. Morgan will help attract a large number of investors and companies to the Ukrainian economy," he said.

The Ukrainian head of state highlighted among the sectors of his economy that are open to investment in agriculture.

Zelensky recalled that Ukraine managed in the autumn of last year to unilaterally resume commercial navigation from its Black Sea ports thanks to the success of its military actions against the Russian Fleet.

The Ukrainian president also noted that Ukraine has learned to live under Russian shelling and has managed to minimize the effects of these attacks on the power system and other critical infrastructure.