Macron and Milei speak today +++ Conflict in the Middle East will be the focus of the WEF on Wednesday Economists at the WEF expect a decline in economic growth before 2024

WEF is on Wednesday The only head of state at the meeting of the seven largest Western industrialized countries was French President Emmanuel Macron. He must give a speech about his country’s role in the future of Europe. Further will happen UN Secretary General António Guterres to the forum participants.

This is eagerly awaited Arrival of the new Argentine President Javier Milei. Davos is his first trip abroad as president. The ultra-liberal head of state has already initiated numerous reforms. In Europe he was sometimes criticized as a right-wing populist. In addition to his speech, several bilateral talks are planned.

Also from an economic perspective, the WEF meeting will continue with 2,800 guests from all over the world. Following the emergency rescue of the major Swiss bank Credit Suisse by competitor UBS, the following will be discussed UBS boss Sergio Ermotti about whether banks are prepared for the future. (lacquer/sda)

The conflict in the Middle East respectively the war between Israel and the radical Islamic Hamas will be featured on Wednesday during the WEF. What is important is the planned one Appearance of Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

According to a statement, Herzog will be with First Lady Michal Herzog and a delegation of relatives of hostages still held by the radical Islamic group Hamas in Gaza, arrive. Herzog plans to give a speech and attend a series of meetings with other political leaders.

The purpose of the visit was to exert “intense political pressure” for the release of the hostages and to sensitize heads of state and government to the consequences of Hamas’ attack on October 7, Israel’s presidential office said.

Several ministers from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are also present in Davos, who are considered mediators in the conflict. High-ranking delegations from the crisis region, including from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq, are also on site. (lacquer/sda)

Polish President Andrzej Duda reached an agreement in Davos with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on a visit by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to Kiev. Duda had assured Zelenskyj of his country’s continued support, the Polish presidential office wrote on the X platform (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday evening. The Ukrainian president could discuss the details with Tusk “in a few days in Kiev”.

There have been tensions between the two neighboring countries recently. Polish transporters blocked various border crossings for more than two months in protest against cheaper competition from Ukraine. There was also a dispute between Warsaw and Kiev over the approval of Ukrainian agricultural products.

At the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos, Zelensky again appealed to the international community for more support for Ukraine in its defensive struggle against Russia’s war of aggression. Regarding his meeting with Duda, he spoke of coordination between the two countries before the NATO summit in Washington. Ukraine wants to join the military alliance and receives support from Poland. He also informed Duda about the current situation at the front, Zelenskyj said on his Telegram channel. (sda/dpa)

Moscow has criticized the talks in Davos, Switzerland, on a peace solution in Ukraine without Russian participation as “pointless and harmful.” “The “Principles of Peace for Ukraine” that the organizers are trying to elaborate are not a priori feasible because they are based on the absurd and unacceptable “Zelensky formula” based on the situation,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in Moscow on Tuesday. She complained that Zelensky’s formula also included a ban on peace negotiations with Russia.

The Ukrainian president had called for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, the punishment of those responsible for the war and Russian reparations. This is unrealistic, Zakharova said. Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously stated that Russia would not give up its conquests. Moscow launched its war of aggression almost 23 months ago under the pretext of protecting the Russian-speaking population in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine. Russia now also occupies large parts of southern Ukraine.

More than eighty countries met in Davos to discuss a peace plan for Ukraine. The conference did not produce any concrete results. (sda/dpa)

Switzerland has chosen Geneva as the location for the planned peace summit on Ukraine. The Keystone-SDA news agency learned this on Tuesday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) from a federal government source familiar with the file.

The two countries have already started the meeting, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj said on Tuesday at the WEF in Davos GR. The exact modalities, especially the date, were not yet clear.

Switzerland is organizing the peace summit at the request of Ukraine, as the two countries announced on Monday on the occasion of Zelenskyj’s visit to the Federal Council in Bern. Federal President Viola Amherd said she and Zelenskyj wanted broad support and the largest possible number of participants. The countries of the Global South and also China should be represented.

However, Russia is not welcome. On Sunday, more than eighty states and organizations discussed the Ukrainian peace formula to end the war in Davos. The Kremlin described the talks as useless because Russia was not there.

Zelensky’s 10-point plan, described as a peace formula, calls for a full Russian withdrawal from Ukraine, reparations and punishment of war criminals. Ukraine has been defending itself against a Russian invasion with Western help for almost two years. Nearly a fifth of Ukrainian territory is under Russian control.

An international conference on humanitarian demining in Ukraine will take place in Geneva in October. A few months ago, the Federal Council decided to provide 100 million francs to help clear about 156,000 square kilometers of potentially exploited land in Ukraine. (sda)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned of a possible “freeze” of Russia’s war against his country.

“Every frozen conflict will flare up again at some point”The head of state said this on Tuesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Zelensky has long been in favor of deciding the war on the battlefield, in order to inflict the greatest possible strategic defeat on Russia.

Zelenskiy recalled efforts by then German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President François Hollande to stop the conflict in eastern Ukraine that erupted in 2014. The then agreements on a ceasefire and a peace plan between Kiev and the Moscow-backed separatists were never fully implemented.

Zelenskyy again accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of not being interested in a peace solution. “Putin is a predator who is not satisfied with frozen food”, the Ukrainian emphasized. He always comes back for more.

As a way out, Zelensky pointed to his ten-point plan, which is based on a complete Russian withdrawal from Ukraine, reparations and punishment of war criminals. Only this peace plan would make a “just and stable peace” possible, he emphasized.

Ukraine has been defending itself against the Russian invasion with Western help for almost two years. Nearly a fifth of Ukrainian territory is under Russian control. (sda/dpa)

Zelensky believes that Ukraine’s true treasure is its people.

Investments in the Ukrainian economy are needed.

“If you strengthen our economy, we will strengthen your security.”

The people will never forgive Putin or those who supported “this terrorism”. President Zelensky extends his condolences to all those who have lost loved ones.

If there are no consequences, other autocrats would follow.

The Ukrainian people are fighting bravely for freedom.

Putin must be isolated, Zelensky said.

Zelensky wonders how long the Russian people will continue to pretend that everything is fine. Putin cannot change, Zelensky denies him his humanity.

“Peace must be the answer.”