US President Donald Trump will show off his new “Board of Peace” and meet Ukraine’s leader at Davos on Thursday — burnishing his claim to be a peacemaker a day after backing off his own threats against Greenland.
Trump abruptly announced on Wednesday that he was scrapping tariffs against Europe and ruling out military action to take Greenland from Denmark, partially defusing a crisis which has shaken the meeting of global elites.
On his second day at the Swiss ski resort, Trump will seek to promote the “Board of Peace”, his controversial body for resolving international conflicts, with a signing ceremony for the organisation’s charter.
The fledgling board boasts a $1 billion price tag for permanent membership and Trump has invited leaders including Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu and Hungary’s Viktor Orban to join.
Key US allies including France and Britain have expressed skepticism but others have signed up, particularly in the Middle East where Trump-friendly Saudi Arabia, and Qatar have agreed to join.
About 35 world leaders have committed so far out of the 50 or so invitations that went out, a senior Trump administration official told reporters on Wednesday.
Trump also said on Wednesday that Putin had agreed to join — despite the Kremlin so far saying it was still studying the invite.
– ‘Framework of a future deal’ –
The inclusion of Russian president Putin has caused particular concern among US allies, but especially in Ukraine as it seeks an end to Moscow’s nearly four-year-old invasion.
Trump said he was due to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after the “Board of Peace” meeting as difficult negotiations for a ceasefire in the Ukraine war continue.
At Davos on Wednesday, Trump said Russia and Ukraine would be “stupid” not to reach a peace deal in the conflict that he said he could solve within a day of taking office a year ago.
