Zelensky Shames Europe at Davos Over Weak Defence and Greenland Tokenism

Summary: Volodymyr Zelensky used his Davos platform to shame Europe for “talking” rather than acting, warning that token deployments and legal dithering over frozen Russian assets signal weakness to Moscow and beyond. He even dragged Greenland into it, arguing Europe must become a real security “global force” or keep playing catch-up.

Zelensky’s Davos message: Europe must act like a power

Speaking in Davos, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky sharpened his criticism of Europe’s approach to security, arguing the continent is too slow, too cautious and too comfortable outsourcing hard decisions.

His core message was blunt: Europe can either become a serious global force or remain permanently reactive as threats multiply.

“Europe loves to discuss the future but avoids taking action today…that defines the kind of future we will have.”

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Greenland, symbolism and the message to rivals

Zelensky turned to the Greenland security debate to illustrate what he sees as Europe’s weakness for symbolism over substance, warning that small deployments send the wrong signal to allies and adversaries alike.

He questioned what a limited troop presence would actually achieve in real-world deterrence terms.

“If you send 40 soldiers to Greenland, what is that for? What message does it send? What’s the message to Putin? or to China?”

“And even more importantly, what message does it send to Denmark? The most important, your closest ally.”

“30 or 40 soldiers will not protect anything.”

Zelensky also suggested Ukraine could help secure the region if it were part of Nato, while stressing the limits imposed by its current status outside the alliance.

“We can take actions [in the sea] and we know how to fight there, if we were asked, if Ukraine were in Nato, but we’re not…”

Frozen Russian assets and Europe’s paralysis

The Ukrainian president’s sharpest criticism was reserved for Europe’s continued failure to unlock frozen Russian state assets to support Ukraine’s defence and recovery.

Despite billions being held within European jurisdictions, political hesitation and legal caution have stalled meaningful action, something Zelensky argued directly benefits Moscow.

“When the time came to use those assets, the decision was blocked…Putin managed to stop Europe, unfortunately.”

This hesitation matters in context. As outlined in this explainer on the origins of the Ukraine war before 2022, Western indecision and delay have repeatedly shaped the conflict long before Russia’s full-scale invasion.

The UK political reality behind Zelensky’s warning

For Britain, Zelensky’s message cuts close to home. Europe’s habit of delay reinforces the case for independent defence decision-making and scepticism towards Brussels-led security coordination.

While the UK is no longer tied to EU defence structures, it still faces the consequences of a continent that struggles to move decisively when confronted by hard power.

Zelensky’s warning is ultimately about political will. Without it, Europe signals to hostile states that delay, legal obstruction and internal division remain effective weapons.

“If not… Europe will always be reacting, catching up with new dangers and attacks.”