Zelenskyy accuses EU leaders of waiting for direction from Trump

"Just last year, here in Davos, I ended my speech with the words Europe needs to know how to defend itself, Zelenskyy said in a speech at the World Economic Forum. A year has passed, and nothing has changed. Zelenskyy's speech nodded toward the extraordinary demands by Trump for the US to take over Greenland, but largely eschewed criticism of the US president, instead blaming Europeans for remaining at the behest of an increasingly unpredictable White House."

"Everyone gave attention to Greenland, and it is clear most leaders are not sure what to do about it. It seems like everyone is just waiting for America to cool down on this topic, hoping it will pass away. But what if it [does] not: what then? Europe must learn how to defend itself. Sending 14 or 40 soldiers to Greenland what is that meant to achieve? What message does that send to Putin? To China? And perhaps, most importantly, what message does it send to Denmark?"

"We know what to do if Russian warships go near Greenland, Ukraine can help with that. They can sink near Greenland just as they do near Crimea. He also suggested that Europe should play a more muscular role in targeting Russia's shadow fleet of oil tankers that help bankroll its war machine, and said it remained too easy for Russia to bypass sanctions that allow it to continue mass-producing missiles and other ordinance."

European leaders have relied on the United States for leadership on geopolitical crises, leaving Europe unprepared to defend itself. The Greenland controversy highlighted dependence on American attention rather than autonomous European action. Deploying small contingents to Greenland risks sending mixed strategic signals to rivals and allies. Ukraine can offer practical assistance against maritime threats near Greenland based on combat experience near Crimea. Europe should more forcefully target Russia's shadow fleet and close sanctions loopholes that finance missile production. NATO's present posture leaves existential threats insufficiently deterred without a united European armed force.

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