Lessons from Davos 2026: Why Europe must act today for its future

Olha Konsevych

“Europe loves to discuss the future but avoids taking action today – action that will define what kind of future we will have,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in Davos. Europe faces a choice that can no longer be postponed.

Russian shadow fleet: France is increasing pressure

Despite all the challenges, it is worth beginning with an example that demonstrates the effectiveness of collective action. On January 22, France detained a tanker linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” in the Mediterranean Sea, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on the social media platform X.

Macron said the vessel is suspected of sailing under a false flag. He added that the operation was conducted on the high seas in the Mediterranean with the support of several allied countries. “The operation was carried out in strict compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” Macron emphasised.

The French president also confirmed that a judicial investigation has already been launched. He further stressed that the activities of Russia’s shadow fleet contribute directly to financing Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

The Institute for the Study of War has noted an increase in pressure by European countries on oil tankers linked to Russia and its allies. According to the institute’s analysts, dozens of shadow fleet tankers operating off the coast of Venezuela have switched to sailing under Russian flags in recent months. In addition, many vessels associated with Russia’s shadow fleet have been sanctioned for transporting cargo that supports the Iranian regime.

Earlier, the United States detained the tanker Sagitta, also linked to Russia’s shadow fleet – the seventh such vessel to be seized so far. At the same time, discussions in Washington have intensified over the need to significantly increase pressure on Russian oil exports.

Yet the question remains: is this level of coordination and unity between the United States and Europe visible more broadly when it comes to security?

Davos forces us to reflect on the future contours of global politics.

Resilience cannot replace air defence systems and electricity

What surprised many observers in Davos was how quickly the focus shifted from Ukraine to Greenland. This framing unsettled many Europeans, but it should not have come as a surprise.

One of the most popular words in Davos this year was “resilience.” “It seems this was the first time I felt so sharply that we have overused this narrative,” Liubov Tsybulska, founder of the Centre for Strategic Communications and Information Security and an expert on hybrid threats, wrote after Davos.

“Foreign audiences admire our resilience. During one of the panels, the discussion went as far as describing our current life as our new normal. This certainly gives us a reason to be proud, but at the same time it becomes an indulgence for inaction,” she explained.

Tsybulska also pointed to the limits of Europe’s current response to Ukraine, despite increasingly firm rhetoric.

“Overall, for Ukraine, even though support was articulated as strongly as possible, there were hardly any fundamentally new ideas voiced by Europeans,” she noted. “The rhetoric has become tougher, yes, but not transformative. And there is still no unified vision of how to respond to the bullying coming from Trump.”

“Europe must learn how to defend itself”

Speaking during an online chat with Ukrainian and international journalists, including Mahabahu, Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the core framework of security guarantees is already complete – but stressed that political timing, not technical readiness, is now decisive.

“Our security guarantees are indeed ready, and the agreement is ready to be signed. Of course, there will still be many different technical details, and additional documents will appear based on this document. But the main, core agreement on security guarantees is ready. Now I am waiting for President Trump to name the date and place. That is up to him. We are ready to sign documents that are extremely important for us – and I want to emphasize this again – I am confident this is a historic document.”

He was particularly critical of Europe’s failure to close loopholes that allow Russia to sustain its war effort: “Sanctions are being imposed – and once again, I am grateful for all the sanctions packages – but Russia finds ways to circumvent them through third parties. For example, components… They must not be supplied, yet they still come – from Europe as well. This must be stopped.”

Zelenskyy’s conclusion in a special address at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting echoed one of the most uncomfortable truths of Davos 2026: “Europe must learn how to defend itself. Sending 14 or 40 soldiers to Greenland, what is that meant to achieve? What message does that send to Putin? To China?.. Europe looks lost trying to convince the U.S. president to change. But he will not change. President Trump loves who he is. And he says he loves Europe, but he will not listen to this kind of Europe.”

Olha Konsevych: Journalist, researcher; Vital Voices; GMF; WZB Berlin ; Max Planck Society alumna ;Mahabahu Correspondent

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