Davos day one: Volodymyr Zelenskiy rallies support for Ukraine after ‘upbeat’ meeting with CEOs – as it happened

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Zelenskiy: Putin has stolen 13 years of peace

Zelenskiy begins by launching a blistering condemnation of Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

He tells Davos that the full-scale war in Europe has been running for almost two years, but it is almost 10 years since Crimea was annexed by Russia.

Russia has also been interfering in African countries for many years, he adds, while the Syrian war is still ongoing, for almost 13 years.

One man has stolen at least 13 years of peace, replacing them with pain, pain, pain and crisis that impact the entire world.

Putin is trying to normalise what should have ended in the 20th century, Zelenskiy continues. That means mass deportations, cities razed to ground, and the feeling that war will never end, he explains.

Zelenskiy continues by warning that Putin will not change, adding that “the madness that resides in this man’s head” must not prevail.

And Zelenskiy then touches on the risk that the conflict spreads further, asking which European nation today can provide a combat-ready army in comparison with Ukraine’s, holding back Russia.

It is better to put an end to Putin and his war strategy now, he adds.

The Congress Hall here in Davos has filled up, with delegates eager to hear from Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

The Ukrainian president walks in, to a warm round of applause.

WEF founder Klaus Schwab introduces Zelenskiy, saying:

The brutal aggression on the 24th of February 2022 reminded us that we cannot have global prosperity without peace and security.

Ukraine still stands, its people stand, and fight on a daily basis to protect the independence of their homeland, Schwab adds, hailing Ukraine’s incredible resilience.

Ukraine is firmly on the path of European integration, Schwab adds.

Bloomberg have a video clip of Volodymyr Zelenskiy meeting with business leaders today, including JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s Jamie Dimon, Blackstone’s Steve Schwarzman and Bridgewater founder Ray Dalio.

Dimon introduced himself to Zelenskiy thus:

“I’m Jamie Dimon from JPMorgan Chase. God bless you.”

I think this is a second meeting, following the one which Senator Chris Coons of Delaware attended here in the congress centre.

Zelenskiy meets business leaders at Davos

The mood in the room here where Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with business leaders this morning was “upbeat, determined, positive,” US senator for Delaware, Chris Coons, tells us.

Coons was one of an estimated 50 or more people who met with Ukraine’s leader today, as Zelenskiy pressed attendees at Davos for their support in the ongoing war with Russia.

Coons, who sports a badge with both the US and Ukrainian flags linked, explains that the meeting went “very well, it was very encouraging”, and that it was an expression of business and national support for Ukraine.

Zelenskiy gave us an update on the war with Russia, and the determination of the Ukrainian people,” Coons explains, adding:

“He urged that we remain as determined as the Ukranian people and that we see this through.”

There were a number of bankers in the room (including Bank of America’s Brian Moynihan), and also the head of fertilizer giant Yara, Coons tells us.

Senator Coons adds that Youtube’s CEO talked about the efforts they have made to take down Russian disinformation and malign content and to make sure that students are able to learn, businesses can communicate, and government can function.

Ursula von der Leyen made “forceful remarks” about her six visits to Kviv during the war, how impressed she is with their reform movements to combat corruption, to improve transparency to create a good business environment.

Attendees also heard from Jens Stoltenburg, the head of Nato, about about the status of the war, and some of the crucial progress in the Black Sea, the challenges of the spring and summer offensive.

Stoltenburg encouraged everyone to remain committed and determined, Coons says.

Penny Pritzker, the US special representative for Ukraine economic recovery, told the meeting about how she recently took a group of US business representatives to Kyiv to see for themselves the possibilities.

Coons, who sat next to Germany’s economy minister Robert Habeck, was also complimentary about Ukraine, telling us:

I spoke about how in my own manufacturing business, we used to say ‘hire for attitude, train for skill’.

The Ukrainian people have shown they have both – ferocious determination, a great attitude, a work ethic and determination, and very good skills, technical ability and agility, engineering skills, the capacity to find a way even when desperately outgunned and outmanned by a much bigger force.

That’s a great place to invest.

I spoke about the Marshall Plan, and how it wasn’t charity, it was in America’s own security and economic interest.

One European banker pointed out that while the Marshall Plan was a great thing, it took America several years after the end of the war to actually offer the help.

Coons argues the process can start even before the war is over, in parts of the country less affected by the conflict which are stable and secure.

He says:

Here we need to begin now, we need to now wait until it is fully, finally over?

On funding, Coons told the meeting with confidence that United States will deliver the $61bn which is in President Biden’s supplemental funding request.

Coons, a key Biden ally, tells us:

“There will be a lot of disagreement, there will be a lot of sturm und drang, a lof of noise, but I am confident that within a few weeks it will pass.”

Von der Leyen told the meeting that she is confident the 50bn euros from the EU for development for the next four years will also pass.

Concerns that the Middle East could push Ukraine off the geopolitical agenda were also referenced in the meeting, Coons says.

But he is confident that there is support on both sides of the Senate to defend and support Ukraine.

He adds that US financial support has helped Ukraine’s agricultural sector, and the wider economy, citing its remarkable growth this year.

It’s grown almost 5% this year, in the middle of a war, a punishing war, where you’ve got huge amounts of land now unfarmable, filled with mines and unexploded ordinance, 10s of thousands of men who should be at work on the front lines, and with millions of people having left the country.

Updated at  07.47 EST

Volodymyr Zelenskiy has now held a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, here in Davos:

54th WEF annual meeting in DavosUkraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Head of the Ukrainian President’s Office Andriy Yermak arrive for the meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken . Photograph: Denis Balibouse/Reuters Photograph: Denis Balibouse/ReutersU.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken looks on as U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan speaks, while they meet with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Photograph: Denis Balibouse/ReutersVon der Leyen warns West against slowing support for Ukraine

Back in the Congress Hall here, Ursula von der Leyen warned the West not to stop supplying Ukraine with weapons and money if it wants Kyiv to succeed in its war against Russia.

Von der Leyen – who took part in Ukraine’s meeting with business chiefs this morning – told delegates:

“Ukraine can prevail in this war but we must continue to empower their resistance.

“Ukrainians need predictable financing throughout 2024 and beyond. They need a sufficient and sustained supply of weapons to defend Ukraine and regain its rightful territory.”

Updated at  06.30 EST

Theresa May and Princess Eugenie warn of modern slavery dangersTheresa May and Princess Eugenie at a session on modern slavery Photograph: John Collingridge

Governments are failing to properly tackle the scourge of slavery and human trafficking even as it increases, former UK prime minister Theresa May has warned, here in Davos on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.

Climate change, wars and the Covid-19 pandemic have contributed to the problem, she said.

“We’ve seen in recent years the number people in slavery increasing around the world.

“Conflict, the pandemic, the impact of climate change increase vulnerability to it.

At the same time governments are taking their attention off it.”

May, who heads the Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking, was speaking at an event on modern slavery at Davos alongside Princess Eugenie, who co-founded The Anti-Slavery Collective in 2017.

“Guns and drugs can be only trafficked once but human beings are trafficked again and again and again,” said Eugenie.

“For them it happens every day and minute.”

May said companies “need to really pay attention to supply chains” and government need to set tighter laws.

Photograph: John Collingridge

Updated at  06.19 EST

Von der Leyen: Russia is failing in Ukraine war

On Ukraine, Ursule von der Leyen says Russia is failing on its strategic goals.

Moscow has lost half of its military capabilities, and been driven out of half the territory it captured.

Ukraine has pushed back Russia’s Black Sea fleet, and begun supplying grain to the world again, she says.

It has been an economic failure too; Western sanctions mean Russia is now dependent on China.

It has also been a diplomatic failure, with Finland joining NATO, and Ukraine closer than ever in its path to joining the European Union, von der Leyen says.

But Ukraine needs more help – financing in 2024 and beyond, weapons supplies for the war, and to deter future action by Russia.

Next up, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.

She starts by reminding Davos delegates that last week’s WEF global risks report showed that misinformation and disinformation are biggest short-term risks.

These risks are limiting leaders’ ability to tackle the big global challenges we are facing, von der Leyen warns.

She says that Europe can and must take the lead in shaping the global response to falling trust, and that the private sector had a crucial role to play.

This will be a crucial year for trust in information, she adds, as democracies across the world head to the polls, in elections that will affect half the global population.

Li: China believes AI must do good for humanityPremier of China Li Qiang addressing attendees of the Annual Meeting of World Economic Forum in Davos. Photograph: Markus Schreiber/AP

Onto questions

Q: what role will China play in artificial intelligence?

Li says artificial intelligence is a catchphrase, and that people love generative AI such as ChatGPT – but there is also suprise and some fear in some quarters about what it can do.

This technology seems omnipitant, he says, but people are taking time to get used to it.

He then describes AI as a double-edged sword.

If applied well, it can do good and improve human civilisation, and give great impetus to the scientific revolution.

But it also poses risks to security and to our ethics.

He tells delegates:

China believes that technology must serve the common good of humanity.

It must do good, and the same applies to artificial intelligence.

Li then explains that AI must be people-centred. People must control the machines, rather than the machines controlling us.

Thus, policymakers must facilitate good AI with appropriate governance.

Second, AI must be inclusive and beneficial for all, not just a small group of people.

Therefore, it is essential that countries work together and coordinate together, so they can share benefits together.

He adds that the interest of developing countries should be prioritised, to close the technology gap with other countries.