Volodymyr Zelensky in Davos: Vladimir Putin is a predator, he will not stop in Ukraine

"If anyone thinks that the war in Ukraine is only about this country, they are deeply mistaken", said Volodymyr Zelensky at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The Ukrainian president called on Western countries for unity and appealed for further support from Kyiv. Ukraine is most interested in strengthening its air defense.

"How many men and women are your countries ready to send to defend another state, another nation? If we have to fight together against Putin in the coming years, wouldn't it be better to put an end to him and his war strategy now, while our brave men and women do it?"
asked the president of Ukraine during a meeting in Switzerland.

According to Volodymyr Zelensky, the West made a mistake by fearing that the transfer of advanced weapons to Kyiv would trigger an escalation of actions. He called Vladimir Putin a “predator” who will not be satisfied with “freezing” the conflict in Ukraine.

Volodymyr Zelensky scores points for the West

Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that it's not only about Ukraine, stating, "Possible directions or time limits of Russia's new aggressions are becoming more and more obvious". The politician also argued that achieving air superiority would be crucial in this phase of the war.

"Our partners know our needs and their scope (...). We have proven that we are able to attack Russian military planes that no one has ever shot down before," Zelensky noted.

Kyiv reported on Monday that the armed forces managed to shoot down two Russian planes: an A-50 detecting and controlling long-range radars and an Il-22M bomber.

According to Volodymyr Zelensky, the West has made mistakes in its sanctions policy.

"The West's weakness is the fact that Russia's nuclear industry is still not subject to sanctions. Although Putin is the only terrorist in the world who took a nuclear power plant hostage"
Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Vladimir Putin: The initiative on the frontline is in Russian hands

About an hour after Zelensky's Swiss speech, Vladimir Putin spoke to pro-Kremlin media. The Russian president said that "it is impossible to take away the military gains" achieved in Ukraine. Talking about possible peace talks, Putin said that the ideas put forward by Kyiv constitute "prohibitive formulas for the peace process".

"Not only has their counteroffensive failed, but the initiative is entirely in the hands of the Russian armed forces. If this situation continues, Ukrainian statehood will suffer a huge, irreversible blow," said the Russian leader.

The president also said that recent "attacks on Russian civilians were barbaric." Russian media recall that more than 20 people were killed in Belgorod near the border with Ukraine at the end of December.

"They want to show that they can do anything. Instead of solving military problems on the front, they act in a barbaric way. Massive attacks are being carried out on peaceful settlements," Putin criticized.