According to Mark Rutte, Russia's war against Ukraine cannot end in a bad agreement, because Vladimir Putin will then derive satisfaction from it, along with the leaders of North Korea, Iran and China.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did not participate in the meeting at the World Economic Forum during the Ukrainian breakfast scheduled for Thursday, and his country was represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko.
Davos, Switzerland, January 23, 2025. A high-profile gathering at the Davos Ukrainian Breakfast with Andrzej Duda, President of Poland (4th from left), Edgars Rinkevics, President of Latvia (5th from left), Alexander Stubb, President of Finland (3rd from left), Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General (3rd from right),Yulia Svyrydenko, Minister of Economy of Ukraine (2nd from right), Alexander de Croo, Prime Minister of Belgium (far right). Photo: PAP/Albert Zawada
President Andrzej Duda was among the panelists, while Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski took the floor in the discussion. He assessed that the Russian leader should "deserve a summit" on the war in Ukraine with the new US President Donald Trump.
The topic of the breakfast, organized by the foundation of Ukrainian businessman Viktor Pinchuk during the Economic Forum in Davos, was the situation of Ukraine defending itself against Russia.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Radoslaw Sikorski reacts during a panel session during the 55th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), in Davos, Switzerland, 23 January 2025. Photo: MICHAEL BUHOLZER/PAP/EPA
Poland's chief diplomat also participated in the panel discussion titled "Ukraine: The Road Ahead" in Davos.
The Ukraine breakfast also heard moving stories from soldiers. Ukrainians involved in the war shared poignant experiences from the conflict, including one who recounted arriving in a village after intense fighting and being welcomed by a young boy in a Real Madrid shirt who offered them bread and milk.
Tragically, shortly after they departed, Russian tanks arrived and destroyed the house, leading the soldier to believe that the boy likely did not survive.
"I'm certain the boy died," said the Ukrainian, whose story is reported by "The Guardian."
A Ukrainian soldier stands among world leaders and economic experts at the Davos Ukrainian Breakfast, held at the Morosani Schweizerhof Hotel during the World Economic Forum on January 23, 2025. Photo: PAP/Albert Zawada
Source: IAR/PAP
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