President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he has no current plans to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, telling journalists that his priority remains addressing Ukraine’s energy situation amid ongoing Russian attacks.
Responding to reporters’ questions, Zelenskyy said he is focused on work inside the country, including consultations with energy officials and coordination meetings held both online and in person.
“Of course, in this case I choose Ukraine, not an economic forum,” Zelenskyy said.
Energy system in crisis
Ukraine’s energy system has been pushed into crisis this winter after months of Russian missile and drone strikes targeting power plants, substations, and transmission lines. Large parts of the country have faced rolling blackouts, while damage to heating infrastructure has left some cities struggling to maintain stable heat during freezing temperatures.
Officials say the attacks are aimed at overloading repair crews and forcing emergency shutdowns as demand peaks during cold spells. Authorities have repeatedly warned that further strikes could lead to longer outages, especially in frontline regions.
Foreign trips depend on security progress
Zelenskyy said that for now he is choosing to remain in Ukraine rather than travel abroad, but stressed that the situation could change quickly depending on developments related to security assistance and energy support.
He said ending the war remains his main objective and described the Prosperity Plan - an $800 billion reconstruction agreement with the United States - and documents on security guarantees as close to completion. Zelenskyy thanked American and Ukrainian teams for their work, saying only a final stage remains.
“If the documents are ready, we will have a meeting and there will be a trip,” he said, adding that decisions on new energy packages or additional air defense systems could also prompt travel.
Why Davos mattered
Zelenskyy had been expected to meet US President Donald Trump at Davos to finalize the $800 billion reconstruction deal, according to earlier reports. The agreement, developed over months of negotiation, would channel reconstruction funding through a combination of loans, grants, and private investment over a decade, with BlackRock among the participants.
European backers had advised Zelenskyy to meet Trump in Davos rather than Washington, viewing the Swiss forum as more suitable ground for concluding both the economic deal and a separate agreement on post-war security guarantees.
The security document, which Zelenskyy described last week as "essentially ready for finalization at the highest level," would pave the way for a European "reassurance force" led by Britain and France.
