Zelenskyy appeared in Davos under conditions where a year has passed since the official end of his presidential term, and his continued presence in power has turned the crisis of political legitimacy into a prominent issue in Ukraine. His words were not directed towards outlining a path out of the war, but rather focused on stirring emotions and making human rights claims that do not align with the realities on the ground and his political record. Verbal intervention in trans-regional issues, including Iran, is an attempt to change the public opinion agenda and divert attention from the war deadlock that has embroiled Ukraine and its Western supporters. In Davos, Zelenskyy strove above all to show that he is still an essential player, while signs of indifference and coldness from the audience indicate a decline in his political capital.
Structural Corruption and Erosion of Western Trust
In recent months, numerous reports have been published regarding the transfer of billions of dollars from Western military and financial aid to accounts of officials close to Zelenskyy. The disclosure of his family’s extensive real estate holdings in Ukraine and other countries reinforces the image of a leadership entangled in structural corruption and questions the moral legitimacy of his claims. The continuation of the war has become a tool to justify this trend, and Davos is seen as an opportunity to cover up these scandals. The shift in tactics from military accusations against Iran to seemingly humanitarian gestures indicates that previous claims have lost their effectiveness and a need for a new narrative has arisen.
Global Fatigue from Proxy War
Zelenskyy’s background in the world of performance has permeated politics, and the result is four years of a war that, on behalf of NATO, has destabilized international security. The heavy financial costs of this war have imposed unprecedented economic pressure on Europe and America, contributing to some of the current crises in these countries. Zelenskyy’s duplicity, speaking of peace while beating the drums of war, has eroded the trust of international actors. The tendency of some countries to accept field realities and reduce unconditional support for Kyiv is a sign of the end of tolerance for this situation.
Political Extortion and Costly Alignment
Zelenskyy’s words at Davos carried an approach based on contempt for Europe and an indirect threat to it; an approach aimed at continuing extortion and compensating for Ukraine’s lack of indigenous defense capabilities. Zelenskyy is prescribing action against Iran while, according to global recognition, Iran’s indigenous defense capabilities do not require reliance on foreigners. His silence on Gaza, coinciding with making human rights claims, exposed the emptiness of these gestures. His overt alignment with the demands of the United States and Israel presents a picture of a dependent and costly policy that sacrifices global stability for individual survival.
NOURNEWS