Davos day one: Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy addresses WEF – business live | Davos 2022

Q: And finally, what is your personal message to each leader here?

Each one? President Zelenskiy suggests it’s not possible.

After all, there’s a thousand of them, and I’m really short of time, he points out.

But he then makes a very serious point:

Ukraine is short on time now. I’m pretty sure that no-one knows how much time Europe or the World has.

Because of that, the world must not lose the unity which worries Russia the most.

And as a finale, he produces some sage advice for the Davos audience.

They should wake up each morning with the feeling “What have I done for Ukraine today?”

And that’s the end of the session.

Q: Given Ukraine’s crucial role in the global food system, how can the global community help you to export more of your products, given the blockade at present?

Zelenskiy says Russia is stealing Ukraine’s grain, having blockaged its Black Sea ports.

He’s been talking to many leaders such as Boris Johnson, the leaders of Poland, Turkey, and Switzerland, and the UN, to find solutions.

He says a corridor must be established to allow exports, such as wheat and sunflower oil.

Otherwise there will be shortages of these food products – including Asia and Africa, everywhere.

By blockaging ports to stop food being exported, Russia is continuing the energy crisis last year.

We need to agree a corridor, and Russia will not be able to stand against the leading countries of the world

This could use railways, or seaports on Baltics, but there is no simple solution.

Onto questions:

Q: What is your vision for the future of Ukraine?

Zelenskiy sticks to the present first – saying there are 87 dead bodies, victims of the conflict, today.

The future of Ukraine will be there, but without them.

Ukraine is losing a lot, every day, but it makes us stronger, Zelenskiy insist.

And the future of the country will include strong new security priorities, as with a neighbour like Russia on the doorstep, anything can happen.

Ukraine must create conditions where people and businesses aren’t afraid to exist and thrive there.

And that will include up-to-date defence system, most modern, multi-modal defence and security system, and cooperative defence agreements with countries we respect, he adds.

Zelenskiy then quote George Marshall (of the post-WW2 rebuilding plan for Europe), who said that he didn’t oppose any country, but opposed “hunger, poverty, dispair, chaos”.

That is Zelenskiy’s hope for the future, as he ends his speech.

He then gets a standing ovation from the audience here – a rare event for Davos (I think Nelson Mandela, for example, would have got one!).

Zelenskiy then turns to the business leaders here at Davos, urging those who have not yet quit Russia to do so – and welcomes them to Ukraine instead.

It is necessary to set a precedent for full withdrawal of all foreign countries from Russia, so they aren’t used for the “bloody interests” of Russia.

Any company which leaves Russia is welcome to move to the Ukraine market, says Zelenskiy, saying companies would benefit by truly supporting freedom.

And turning to the massive challenge of rebuilding Ukraine , he says:

We offer the world the chance to set a precedent for what happens if you try to destroy a neighbour.

I invite you to take part in this rebuilding.

And this rebuilding could be partly funded by finding Russian assets hidden overseas, freezing them, and allocating them to a special fund to help those hurt by the war.

Zelenskiy calls for “Maximum sanctions”

Zelenskiy says Ukraine has fought longer than expected, but says it wouldn’t have needed to have endured the war, with so many casualties, if tough sanctions had been imposed last autumn.

If there had been full unity back in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea, would they have launched February’s invasion? Again, Zelenskiy thinks not.

Zelenskiy cites the creation of the Russian War Crimes House in Davos this year, as evidence of Russia’s conduct in the war.

History remembers how institutions and countries respond to these events, Zelenskiy says — citing 1938 in Munich as an example of how history remembers these decisions.

Zelenskiy: Will brute force rule the world?

There’s a small pause…. and then Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, appears on the video link, receiving a round of applause from the assembled audience here.

WEF founder Klaus Schwab introduces Zelenskiy, saying we have all seen his couragous leadership, and want to hear what lies ahead for Ukraine, and how we can assist.

President of the Swiss Confederation, Ignazio Cassis, is speaking first, telling WEF that Switzerland could not remain neutral in the Russia-Ukraine war:

Switzerland could play a mediation role once the war has ended, he suggests.