Trump Dominates Davos with Ukraine Ceasefire and Peace Board

In mid-January 2026, the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, became a focal point for global diplomacy and tension. The event, held from January 19 to 23, drew leaders worldwide, with U.S. President Donald Trump’s attendance generating significant attention. According to news coverage, his large delegation and “America First” message, including tariff threats, were central topics. European leaders publicly criticized these threats, while Chinese officials promoted economic stability. Other leaders, like Egypt’s Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, used the forum to discuss partnerships and regional issues, including a meeting with Trump on security and water disputes.

A key development occurred on January 23, when Trump formally established the Board of Peace (BoP) with a signing ceremony in Davos. The reference material states this organization, proposed in September 2025 and named in a UN Security Council resolution the previous November, was tasked with overseeing the Gaza peace plan. However, news reports framed this launch as part of Trump’s effort to dominate the summit. The BoP faced immediate skepticism; European Union countries failed to support it, and France had previously voiced concern it sought to usurp the United Nations' role.

The forum’s agenda expanded significantly with the war in Ukraine. On January 24, Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stating that NATO should handle the conflict. This was followed by a major announcement on January 29, where Trump declared a partial ceasefire in Ukraine, shifting responsibility to NATO and the EU. News reports specified he claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to pause strikes on Kyiv for a week due to extreme cold. Zelenskyy’s own Davos speech had earlier drawn mixed reactions and prompted an angry response from Iran, whose foreign minister was barred from attending the summit. Concurrently, other geopolitical issues surfaced at Davos, including Greenland’s strategic importance following U.S. threats and Canada opening a consulate there.

Throughout the forum, Trump’s actions and announcements sparked diplomatic exchanges. He engaged in public disputes with French President Emmanuel Macron while strengthening ties with Argentina’s Javier Milei, who delivered a pro-capitalism speech. The narrative from Davos, as reflected in global news coverage, was one of a shifting world order, underscored by Canadian official Mark Carney’s declaration that the old order was dead, a point he debated with European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde.