Trump says he will meet Zelensky at Davos with peace deal ‘reasonably close’
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Donald Trump has said it will be a “disgrace” if no peace agreement is reached between Russia and Ukraine, before a meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky at Davos.
The US president spoke to reporters shortly after the official launch of his Gaza ‘Board of Peace’ – which Vladimir Putin has been invited to be a member of – at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.
“I think we’re getting close,” he said, reiterating comments by himself and special envoy Steve Witkoff in recent days.
“A lot of people are being killed, we’ve got to get it done. If we don’t get done it will be a disgrace,” he added, having earlier said Zelensky and Putin are “stupid” if they do not manage to agree to a deal.
Trump will meet Zelensky at 1pm local time (12pm GMT), before the Ukrainian president gives a speech to world leaders at 2:30pm (1:30pm GMT).
Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is travelling to Moscow later today to meet the Russian president Vladimir Putin and discuss an end to the war in Ukraine.
“I think we’ve made a lot of progress,” Mr Witkoff said, adding that negotiations were down to one last issue.
Pictured: Zelensky arrives in Davos for Trump talks
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky arrives prior to a planned meeting with US president Donald Trump on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on January 22 (Getty Images)
Alex Croft22 January 2026 13:04
Trump is committed to Ukraine, says Nato chief at Davos
The United States remains committed to Ukraine, Nato secretary general Mark Rutte said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
On being asked if US president Donald Trump showed commitment to Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty, Rutte said: “Yes! And I have never doubted this.”
“What we need is to keep our eyes on the ball of Ukraine. Let’s not drop that ball,” he said.
Alex Croft22 January 2026 12:45
Poland cautiously observing drone activity on border
Poland’s military said it has been monitoring increased small drone activity near the border with Belarus on Thursday, amid heightened concern over hybrid attacks from the east in Europe.
The military’s operational command said on social media that yesterday evening there was a spike in UAVs sighted over the border.
James Reynolds22 January 2026 12:36
Trump meets with Zelensky in Davos
Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky are currently meeting in Davos, Zelensky’s office says.
Trump said going into the meeting that he thought peace efforts were getting close.
His special envoys are separately due to meet with Vladimir Putin in Moscow today.
James Reynolds22 January 2026 12:29
In pictures: Aftermath of Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih apartment building
Rescuers stand in front of an apartment building damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk (via REUTERS)Russia has ramped up drone and missile attacks this year (via REUTERS)A resident with a dog stands in front of a large crater (via REUTERS)
Alex Croft22 January 2026 12:24
Russia strikes apartment block in Dnipro
An apartment block has been hit in a Russian strike on the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro, mayor Borys Filatov has said.
They have hit a residential building. All the details will come later,” Mr Filatov said.
A fire broke out in the multi-storey building and is currently being put out by firefighters, he added.
Alex Croft22 January 2026 12:05
Ukrainian military says it struck Russian oil terminal in Krasnodar region
Ukraine’s military said it struck Russia’s Tamanneftegaz oil terminal in the southern Krasnodar region on Thursday.
The general staff did not provide further details but said the facility supplied fuel to the Russian army.
We’ll bring you more as it comes in.
Alex Croft22 January 2026 11:40
‘If we don’t get it done it will be a disgrace’: Trump on Ukraine peace deal
Donald Trump has just spoken with the press following the ‘Board of Peace’ signing ceremony.
He confirms again that he will Volodymyr Zelensky and that his envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are meeting with Vladimir Putin.
“I think we’re getting close,” he reiterates. “A lot of people are being killed, we’ve got to get it done.”
“If we don’t get done it will be a disgrace,” he added.
(Getty Images)
Alex Croft22 January 2026 11:20
Trump considering ‘tariff-free zone’ for post-war Ukraine
Donald Trump is considering establishing a “tariff-free zone” in Ukraine in a bid to drive the country’s post-war economy in the event of a peace settlement with Russia, special envoy Steve Witkoff has said.
“The president has talked about a tariff-free zone from Ukraine that I think would be game-changing,” Mr Witkoff told the Ukraine Breakfast event on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, before making his way to Moscow for a meeting with Vladimir Putin on Thursday.
The model would allow businesses to set up production in Ukraine, gaining a competitive edge in the US market thanks to the lack of tariffs.
This could, Mr Witkoff suggested, result in the mass relocation of industrial companies to Ukraine – companies which could then outperform rivals as they would not pay tariffs when exporting to the US.
Alex Croft22 January 2026 11:13
The Independent View | Abandon your foolish Greenland fantasies, Mr President, and remember Ukraine
Now deep into what might be called his anecdotage, Donald Trump couldn’t help himself in delivering his usual repertoire of supposedly entertaining and inspirational stories to a bemused captive audience at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Then just hours later, he performed a surprise U-turn and abandoned his latest tariff threat against Europe entirely, after reaching the “framework of a future deal” with Nato. One wonders if all the dramatics were worth it.
In any case, the president found time in his lengthy address to mention the war in Ukraine – a real and bloody conflict, in sharp contrast to the improbable one in Greenland. Specifically, the president made reference to the tens of thousands of soldiers who are still being slaughtered every week as Vladimir Putin’s “special military operation” approaches the end of its fourth year.
Read The Independent’s editorial here:
Alex Croft22 January 2026 10:44
