At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated on January 21 that at least 200,000 European peacekeepers would be necessary to prevent a new Russian attack after a ceasefire is reached. This comment was made a day after U.S. President Donald Trump resumed office, promising to swiftly end the war in Ukraine.

Zelenskiy urged European leaders to take stronger actions to protect the continent, emphasizing the need for security guarantees to prevent future Russian aggression. When asked about a potential peacekeeping force, he mentioned that 200,000 troops were the minimum requirement, noting that Russia’s military strength exceeds Ukraine's by a large margin.

He also addressed the ongoing efforts to arrange a meeting between himself and Trump, confirming that the teams were working on it. Zelenskiy reiterated that Ukraine would not agree to Russia’s demands of drastically reducing its military, predicting that Russian President Vladimir Putin would want Ukraine's armed forces to be reduced to a fifth of their current size.

Zelenskiy also highlighted that Europe needs to assert itself as a strong global player capable of guaranteeing its own security. He pointed out that the U.S. does not worry about Europe potentially abandoning its alliance, criticizing Europe’s lack of contribution to security.

Lastly, Zelenskiy commented on the proposed increase in defense spending for NATO members, suggesting that if defense requires 5% of GDP, then Europe should commit to that level, rather than reducing funding for healthcare or pensions to meet defense needs.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters