ISTANBUL

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called into question Tuesday whether the US is committed to its European allies.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Zelenskyy said the first executive orders signed by US President Donald Trump following his inauguration the previous day have shown “clear priorities” on domestic issues.

Zelenskyy said Europe sees an “indispensable ally” when looking at the US, though he questioned whether this was the case from Washington’s perspective.

“In times of war, everyone worries: ‘Will the US stay with them?’ And every ally worries about that. But does anyone in the United States worry that Europe might abandon them some day, might stop being their ally? The answer is no,” he said.

Zelenskyy recalled conversations he had with representatives of the former US administration during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in June 2024, saying they openly listed Europe as third on the list of Washington’s priorities.

“Europe can’t afford to be second or third in line of (US) allies. If that happens, the world will start moving forward without Europe,” he argued.

“Europe needs to compete for the top spot in priorities, alliances and technological development,” he said, indicating that it also must establish itself as a “strong, global player.”

“Let’s not forget that there is no ocean separating European countries from Russia. And European leaders should remember these battles involving North Korean soldiers are now happening in places geographically closer to Davos than to Pyongyang,” he added.​​​​​​​