In the event of a threat, Europe simply waits, hoping the problem will disappear itself, and sends 30-40 troops to defend the territory, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at the World Economic Forum in Davos. His speech in Davos received a standing ovation.
“If Putin decides to take Lithuania or strike Poland, who will respond?" he asked.
At present, NATO exists largely because of the belief that the US will act, will not stand aside, and will provide assistance.
Greenland as a mirror of Europe’s weakness
However, the situation around Greenland has exposed Europe’s weak points.
“It seems like everyone is just waiting for America to cool down on this topic, hoping it will pass away,” Zelenskyy said.
He also mentioned the 30-40 troop mission to Greenland, asking, "What message does it send?" Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are closely watching the response to the Greenland crisis, as is Denmark, the European Union's closest ally.
"You either declare that European bases will protect the region from Russia and China and establish those bases, or you risk not being taken seriously because 30 or 40 soldiers will not protect anything," he stated.
The Iranian lesson: waiting means allowing people to be killed
Another concerning topic is that Europe has not responded to the mass killings of Iranian protesters, as without America, Europe couldn't offer the country anything.
"There was so much talk about the protests in Iran, but they drowned in blood. The world has not helped enough the Iranian people, and it's true. It has stood aside," he said.
Instead of helping Iranians, Europe celebrated Christmas and the New Year.
"By the time politicians came back to work and started forming a position there, the Ayatollah had already killed thousands," he stressed.
Zelenskyy added that Europe still looks more like geography, history, and traditions than a real political force, not a great power. Until America pressured Europe to spend more on defense, most countries did not even try to reach 5% of GDP, the minimum necessary to ensure security.
