DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump met with presidents, prime ministers and top diplomats from more than a dozen countries Thursday to tout his international “Board of Peace” at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
The list of attendees, according to a forum schedule, is heavy on the Middle East and South America. But it remains short on major U.S. allies from Europe, and the full membership list still isn’t clear.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered an address to world leaders after holding talks with Trump at Davos on ending the war in Ukraine. Zelenskyy called his meeting with Trump “productive and substantive."
Europe is breathing a sigh of relief Thursday following Trump’s dramatic reversal over Greenland the day before in Davos, where he scrapped the tariffs that he threatened to impose on eight European nations to press for U.S. control over Greenland.
Here is the latest:
Zelenskyy announces trilateral meetings between US, Ukraine and Russia
Zelenskyy has announced two days of trilateral meetings between the U.S., Ukraine and Russia in the Emirates starting Friday.
The trilateral meetings will follow the American negotiating team’s visit to Moscow the day before.
“Russians have to be ready for compromises because, you know, everybody has to be ready, not only Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said, “and this is important for us.”
Zelenskyy criticizes Europe and references ‘Groundhog Day’
Zelenskyy has delivered strong words criticizing European leaders on the continent’s security.
“Just last year, here in Davos, I ended my speech with the words: Europe needs to know how to defend itself. A year has passed. And nothing has changed. We are still in a situation where I must say the same words again,” he said in a speech at Davos.
He added that Europe needs to “act now,” referencing the film “Groundhog Day.”
The war in Ukraine approaches the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Zelenskyy says documents for a deal to end war are ‘nearly, nearly ready’
Zelenskyy said documents for a deal to end the war in Ukraine are “nearly, nearly ready.”
Some of the documents seek security guarantees, while others cover economic plans for the future of Ukraine.
Zelenskyy calls Trump meeting ‘productive and substantive’
Zelenskyy has called his meeting with Trump “productive and substantive” in a post Thursday on social media.
The Ukrainian president said on X that he and Trump spoke about air defense for Ukraine. Zelenskyy also wrote that he thanked the U.S. leader for the previous package of air defense missiles, while asking for an additional one.
“Our previous meeting with President Trump helped strengthen the protection of our skies, and I hope that this time we will reinforce it further as well,” he said.
Trump has a long drive back to Zurich
Trump is leaving Davos, but bad weather kept his helicopter grounded, meaning he faces a drive from the mountain town to Air Force One that could take as long as two hours.
Trump says he had a ‘good’ meeting with Zelenskyy
The U.S. and Ukrainian leaders were together for about an hour in what Trump described to reporters as a good meeting.
The Russia-Ukraine war “has to end,” Trump said, adding, “We hope it’s going to end.”
“I think the meeting was good,” he said. U.S. representatives will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday.
Trump says emerging Greenland deal includes ‘all the military access’ we want
“We’re going to have total access to Greenland,” Trump said in a Fox Business interview with Maria Bartiromo. “We’re going to have all the military access we want.”
Trump said the deal, if completed, will also allow for the U.S. to install an element of his “Golden Dome,” part of a multibillion dollar missile defense system, on the Danish territory.
The president on Wednesday scrapped the tariffs that he threatened to impose on eight European nations to press for U.S. control over Greenland after he said he came to an agreement with the head of NATO on a “framework of a future deal” on Arctic security.
Trump-Zelenskyy meeting ends after about an hour
A meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Donald Trump has ended, Ukrainian presidential spokesman Serhii Nykyforov said.
The meeting between the two leaders at Davos lasted about an hour.
“They had a brief one-on-one conversation at the end,” Nykyforov added.
Zelenskyy’s media adviser Dmytro Lytvyn said: “We didn’t count how long the meeting lasted, but it was good.”
The two leaders stayed off camera, and there was no photo op nor questions taken.
Trump and Zelenskyy in Davos together
The Ukrainian president passed reporters on his way into a meeting with Trump at the World Economic Forum.
Trump said earlier today that ending the Russia-Ukraine war remains a priority.
“We’re working to end the horrible killing in Ukraine,” Trump said at the launch of his Board of Peace.
U.S. representatives will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin later Thursday, Trump said after the event.
Zelenskyy arrives for Davos talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr has arrived at the Congress Center ahead of his panel discussion.
He walked past the media without answering questions.
Putin meets with Palestinian President Abbas in Moscow
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday hosted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Moscow for talks.
The Russian leader noted that “back in 1988, the Soviet Union recognized the Palestinian state, and we maintain the same position today.”
“Our approach to the issues of Palestine and the Middle East settlement is principled, not opportunistic. We believe that only forming and proper functioning of the Palestinian state can lead to a final settlement of the Middle East conflict,” Putin said.
Putin said the two will discuss the situation in Gaza and “on the Israeli-Palestinian track,” including Trump’s Board of Peace.
Moscow is considering an invitation to join, according to Putin, who has proposed sending $1 billion to the board from Russian assets frozen in the U.S.
“First and foremost in order to support the Palestinian people, allocate these funds for rebuilding Gaza, generally on solving problems of Palestine,” Putin told Abbas.
“I think it is quite possible,” Putin added. “We have discussed such options before with the representatives of the U.S. administration, and today a meeting and a conversation on this topic is planned in Moscow.”
Putin is due to meet Thursday with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
China refutes Trump wind power claim
China on Thursday refuted Trump’s claim that it doesn’t use wind power turbines at home while dominating the international market for them.
Trump blasted wind energy in a speech Wednesday in Davos, saying “stupid people” were buying windmills from China, which doesn’t use them at home.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said China had 600 million kilowatts of wind power capacity as of the end of November, adding that Chinese exports of wind and solar power equipment had helped other countries reduce their carbon emissions.
“China’s efforts in addressing climate change and promoting the development and application of global renewable energy are evident to all,” he said in Beijing.
Israel does not immediately comment on Rafah crossing
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office and the Israeli military did not have immediate comment on the possible opening of the Rafah crossing.
Kushner, Trump tout Gaza development potential
Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law who has been involved in Middle East negotiations, gave a slide deck presentation at the Board of Peace launch that included real estate development plans by zones.
“We do not have a plan B,” Kushner said, adding that people in Middle East build cities in two or three years.
Trump, during his closing remarks, noted his own experiences in real estate.
He described Gaza as “this beautiful piece of property” and suggested his push for peace between Israel and Hamas “all began with the location.”
Rafah border crossing to open next week
Ali Shaath, head of new technocratic government in Gaza, announced the Rafah border crossing will open in both directions next week.
Israel said in early December it would open the crossing between Gaza and Egypt, but has yet to do so.
Shaath spoke by video message to leaders at the forum.
Marco Rubio praises board, emphasizes Gaza mission
The U.S. secretary of state praised the Board of Peace as “a group of leaders that is about action” and credited Trump for bringing it together.
“He’s not limited by some of the things that have happened in the past, and he’s willing to talk to or engage with anyone in the interest of peace,” Rubio said.
Rubio stressed the body’s job “first and foremost” is “making sure that this peace deal in Gaza becomes enduring.”
Then, Rubio said, it can look elsewhere.
With details of the board’s operations still unclear, Rubio described it is a work in progress.
“Many others who are going to join, you know, others either are not in town today or they have to go through some procedure internally in their own countries, in their own country, because of constitutional limitations, but others will join,” Rubio said.
Board of Peace takes shape with few details about mandate, membership
Trump inaugurated his newly created Board of Peace with a handful of founding members but offered few details about its mandate and how the panel will work or might pursue efforts to end global conflicts.
Trump hailed the board as “something very, very unique for the world.”
Speaking at a ceremony to sign the board’s charter, Trump said it could work with the United Nations to resolve wars not only in the Middle East, where the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza was the genesis of the concept.
But he did not provide specifics about how the board would cooperate with the U.N.
A number of countries, many of them close U.S. allies, have expressed concerns Trump might want the board to supplant or rival the U.N. and have either refused to sign on or remained noncommittal.
Trump and others signing Board of Peace documents
The U.S. president concluded his remarks and he and leaders from Board of Peace nations are signing documents.
The White House billed the ceremony as a sort of charter launch, but no charter draft has been publicly released. Nor is a complete membership list clear yet.
Some invitees are still considering whether to join.
Trump affirms global ambition for his Board of Peace
Trump reaffirmed the Board of Peace will start with a focus on Gaza but then look globally.
“I think we can spread out to other things as as we succeed with Gaza, we’re going to be very successful in Gaza,” he said, adding, “We can do numerous other things. Once this board is completely formed, we can do pretty much whatever we want to do.
“He promised again to work “in conjunction with the United Nations,” though he still criticized the U.N. for not doing enough historically.
“I think the combination of the Board of Peace with the kind of people we have here, coupled with the United Nations, can be something very, very unique for the world,” Trump said.
Trump suggests Middle East problems can end easily
The U.S. president says the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza “is really coming to an end” and Hezbollah’s presence in Lebanon amounts to “remnants.”
On Gaza, Trump said, “They’re down to little fires. We can put them out very easily.”
Trump acknowledged Hezbollah remains in Lebanon, but he downplayed the group’s strength.
“These are remnants. I call them remnants,” Trump said.
Trump mentions UN as a partner
In his opening remarks praising the launch of his Board of Peace, Trump made a point to mention the United Nations.
He said “many nations” have been part of establishing the body.
Then he added, “We’ll work with many others, including the United Nations.”
Trump has been highly critical of the U.N. and withdrawn the U.S. from multiple international organizations, and he has expressed ambitions recently that the new international board can replicate if not compete with the U.N. as an international broker.
Board of Peace logo focuses on US, other parts of Americas
Trump initially billed his Board of Peace focused on Gaza. Then he said it could play alongside the U.N. as a global broker.
But the logo featured at the Davos event depicts North America and only parts of South America.
The White House and State Department in Trump’s second presidency also been highly focused on the Western Hemisphere, complete with Trump dubbing his approach the “Donroe Doctrine” as a play on the Monroe Doctrine established under the fifth U.S. president.
Trump has arrived for Board of Peace launch
The U.S. president will pitch his new international body with heads of government and top diplomats from multiple continents.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff also are with Trump.
The board initially was billed as part of the peace process for Israel and Gaza but Trump has since expanded his ambitions for the group, saying it can play a role mediating other international conflicts.
Merz supports talks between Denmark, Greenland and US
Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany, one of the European countries that had faced Trump’s threat of tariffs over Greenland, said he supports talks between Denmark, Greenland and the U.S. but reaffirmed the Danish kingdom’s sovereignty.
“It is good news that we are making steps into that right direction,” Merz said at Davos. “I welcome President Trump’s remarks from last night — this is the right way to go.”
Rubio, Witkoff, Kushner lead Board of Peace’ US delegation with Trump
Trump’s core foreign policy advisers are expected to join him at the “Board of Peace” event, with Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner in the room alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.
Witkoff and Kushner have been at the center of multiple international negotiations, with Kushner involved especially in Middle East despite not having an official White House role as he did in the first Trump presidency.
Trump and other leaders set to launch Board of Peace
The U.S. president will host presidents, prime ministers and top diplomats from more than a dozen countries to tout his international Board of Peace.
The list of attendees, according to a World Economic Forum schedule, is heavy on the Middle East and South America. But it remains short on major U.S. allies from Europe and the full membership list still isn’t clear.
Among the heads of government: Argentina President Javier Milei and Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto, both Trump allies; Paraguay’s conservative President Santiago Peña; Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev; Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif; Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev.
Pashinyan and Aliyev agreed to their own peace deal at the White House last year.
Attendees also include ministers and diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Turkey and Morocco, among others.
Elon Musk to speak at Davos in newly scheduled session
Tech billionaire Elon Musk is set to speak at Davos on Thursday in a newly scheduled session.
The World Economic Forum, which Musk previously criticized, confirmed it will be the Tesla owner's first time attending the elite event in the Swiss Alps.
His address is billed as a conversation with Laurence Fink, BlackRock’s CEO and interim co-chair of the forum.
Musk is embroiled in a war of words with Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary that began with a dispute over installing Starlink systems on Ryanair planes. O'Leary on Wednesday dismissed the tech titan’s suggestion he would buy the budget airline.
Asian shares rise, tracking Wall Street gains as Trump backs off Greenland
Asian shares mostly advanced on Thursday, tracking Wall Street, after Trump walked back from imposing tariffs on eight European countries over Greenland and ruled out using military force to take control of the territory.
The future for the S&P 500 was up 0.4% on Thursday, while that for the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 0.3%.
Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 climbed 1.9% to 53,760.85, with technology stocks among those leading the gain. SoftBank Group jumped 11% and chipmaker Tokyo Electron rose 3.7%.
Rutte stresses keeping Ukraine as priority
The NATO chief is urging allies to “keep our eyes on the ball of Ukraine” after a standoff over Greenland that rattled the alliance appeared to ease a day earlier.
Rutte, speaking at the Ukraine breakfast, didn’t address a question about whether Greenland, which Trump has coveted, would remain a part of Denmark under the “framework of a future deal” announced by the president.
Rutte noted European plans to free up funds for Ukraine’s defense and U.S.-led talks about a peace deal, but said those efforts wouldn’t bear fruit immediately and Russia continues to launch drone and missile attacks on Ukraine.
“What we need is to keep our eyes on the ball of Ukraine. Let’s not drop that ball,” Rutte said.
Trump seeks to spotlight his proposed ‘Board of Peace’
Trump wants to spotlight his proposed "Board of Peace" at Davos on Thursday, looking to create momentum for a project that has been overshadowed this week by Greenland.
The new board initially was envisioned as a small group of world leaders overseeing the Gaza ceasefire, but has morphed into something far more ambitious. Skepticism about its membership and mandate has led some traditional U.S. allies to take a pass so far.
Trump expressed confidence in his idea ahead of what the White House said would be a “charter announcement” on the sidelines of the forum in the Swiss Alps.
Danish PM says she won’t negotiate on sovereignty
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Thursday that her country can’t negotiate on its sovereignty.
She has been “informed that this has not been the case” following the announcement of a new framework with NATO on Arctic security without the U.S. using force to take over Greenland.
In a statement, the Danish leader said security in the Arctic is a matter for all of NATO and “good and natural” that it be discussed between the U.S. president and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Frederiksen said she has spoken with Rutte “on an ongoing basis,” including before and after he met Trump in Davos.
___
AP World Economic Forum: https://apnews.com/hub/world-economic-forum
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.