16:25 21.01.2025

Zelenskyy speaks in Davos of need for common European security, defense policy

2 min read

European countries need a unified policy in the field of security and defense, not playing on human emotions that defense should be compensated at the expense of medicine or pensions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Tuesday.

"We need a unified European policy on security and defense, and all European countries should be ready to spend as much as is really necessary on security, not as much as they are used to spend during the years of doubt. If 5% of GDP is required for defense, then let it be 5%. And there is no need to play on people's emotions that defense should be compensated at the expense of medicine or pensions – this is not fair," he said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The head of state also noted that "it is now unclear whether Europe will even sit at the table when the war against our country is over," but it is clear how much influence China has over Russia.

Zelenskyy thanked European countries for the support they have given Ukraine since the war began.

"But will President [of the United States Donald] Trump listen to Europe or will he negotiate with Russia and China without Europe? Europe must learn to take full care of itself so that the world cannot afford to ignore it," he said.

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