Zelensky Says Ukraine Ready to Join WEF Meeting in Davos as It Seeks Postwar Funding
When the global elites of business, finance,
banking, and big government convene in Davos next month at the World
Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting, Ukraine will be amongst them.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed
Wednesday his government will be at the meeting in Switzerland,
revealing he also spoke again with BlackRock Inc CEO Larry Fink about
financing the postwar rebuilding effort.
“Specialists of this company are already helping Ukraine to structure
the fund for the reconstruction of our state,” Zelensky, who had a
video call with Fink in September, said in his evening address to the
nation, according to Bloomberg.
He didn’t say whether he would attend the January
16-20 WEF in person or participate virtually, although in the past he
has been a regular attendee at the elite gathering.
Bloomberg reports Zelensky also said he spoke to Italian Prime
Minister Giorgia Meloni and raised the prospect of Italy contributing to
the strengthening of Ukraine’s air defences.
Zelensky made an appearance via video at the last meeting back in May
when he compared his country to Israel in conversation with WEF boss
Klaus Schwab.
The Ukrainian leader told the Davos organiser that, whatever happens
in the present conflict, “with a neighbour like this” — namely Russia —
“anything can happen anytime, and the war may repeat itself,” as
Breitbart News reported.
Zelensky said that, over the longer term, the Ukrainian government
would have to “create such conditions that people and businesses would
not be afraid to exist in this country, to thrive in this country.”
He then asked the gathering to consider the “example of Israel”,
which finds itself in a similarly hostile environment — but has managed
to establish itself as a relatively prosperous economy with a thriving tech industry despite existing in a near-constant state of low-level conflict, or worse.
Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the WEF had earlier greeted
members with the salute: “the future is built by us… by a powerful
community… as you here in this room.”
“History at a Turning Point: Government and Business Strategies” was the
theme for the 2022 edition of the 51-year-old NGO lobbying organization
founded by the German engineer and economist.
The WEF annual meeting for 2023 will take place in Davos, Klosters from 16-20 January.
