A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
At the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave a scorching critique of Europe, his country's most reliable ally.
LEILA FADEL, HOST:
Yeah. The Ukrainian leader said Europe was unprepared for an increasingly dangerous world, even as a war rages within its borders.
MARTÍNEZ: NPR's Ukraine correspondent Joanna Kakissis is in Kyiv. Joanna, so what's the main takeaway of that speech?
JOANNA KAKISSIS, BYLINE: Zelenskyy began with a reference to the movie "Groundhog Day" and said Ukrainians have been reliving the same day during four years of Russia's full-scale war. Europe, he says, is also in a loop, and it's going to kill them. He wants the continent to wake up and see the world order is changing quickly and that they risk being left behind. Now, Zelenskyy issued this wake-up call after a week in which global leaders at Davos, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, raised their concerns about the historic transatlantic relationship with the U.S. Now, Zelenskyy implored Europe to unite and stop relying on the U.S., especially with an aggressive Russia at Europe's doorstep.
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PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY: Instead of taking the lead in defending freedom worldwide, especially when America's focus shifts elsewhere, Europe looks lost trying to convince the U.S. president to change, but he will not change.
KAKISSIS: Zelenskyy made these comments right after meeting President Trump, as Ukraine continues to work on a peace plan with the Americans.
MARTÍNEZ: I'm wondering, though, should Zelenskyy have been so blunt with Europeans, especially since they stepped in as the U.S. has pulled back?
KAKISSIS: Well, A, Zelenskyy does see the fate of Ukraine tied to that of Europe, though he is frustrated that Europe does not do more to stop Russia's war machine. And Ukrainians have worked for many years to break away from post-Soviet influence and embrace the democratic ideals of the European Union and the NATO security alliance. However, Zelenskyy suggested that the unity of NATO itself is fragile. What would happen, he said, if Russia attacked a NATO ally?
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ZELENSKYY: Who will respond? Right now, NATO exists thanks to belief that the United States will act, that it will not stand aside and will help. But what if it doesn't?
KAKISSIS: He said Europe must learn how to defend itself. And because Ukraine has been defending itself for years, it can help, he said.
MARTÍNEZ: Oh, OK. So in what way?
KAKISSIS: So last year, Zelenskyy pushed for the formation of a united European armed force with Ukraine included, of course, that could be up to 3 million troops. And he lamented nothing had been done since he brought it up, but he said it's still not too late and described one way Europe might benefit.
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ZELENSKYY: If Russian warships are sailing freely around Greenland, Ukraine can help. We have the expertise and weapons to ensure not one of those ships remains. They can sink near Greenland, just as they do near Crimea.
KAKISSIS: And now he's talking about how Ukraine, though it has this tiny navy, used sea drones to basically block Russia ships from using the Black Sea. Zelenskyy said Ukraine needs Europe's help today to keep its independence, but that tomorrow, Europe will have to protect its own way of life. And Zelenskyy told Europeans, with Ukraine at your side, no one will wipe their feet on you.
MARTÍNEZ: That's NPR's Joanna Kakissis in Kyiv. Joanna, thank you.
KAKISSIS: You're welcome. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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