Zelenskyy will participate virtually and deliver the keynote address on Monday morning. Deputy Prime Minister Mychajlo Fedorov, five members of parliament and Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko and his brother Wladimir Klitschko also confirmed their presence at the Swiss Alpine resort, according to the WEF in advance.
Guests also include European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, US Special Envoy on Climate Affairs John Kerry and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD). A total of around 50 heads of state and government, as well as 2,500 delegates from business, civil society and science are expected at the meeting, which will last until Thursday, to discuss solutions to international problems.
Russia is not on the guest list
According to the WEF, however, representatives of large Russian state-owned companies and Russian politicians are not invited. World Economic Forum President Borge Brende said: “Russia will come back if it complies with international law again.”
The World Economic Forum begins in Davos
From May 22nd, global politics will also be the topic of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. 2,500 business leaders, 50 heads of state and other high-ranking politicians are invited by Thursday, security precautions are huge as ever.
Marshall Plan for Ukraine
Brende called for a Marshall Plan to rebuild Ukraine. “Even without a peace agreement, which is not very likely at the moment, we have to start work on reconstruction, at least in the areas that are under Ukrainian control,” Brende told the Süddeutsche Zeitung (Monday edition). It’s about infrastructure, electricity, schools, roads and bridges. “We need a Marshall Plan for Ukraine.”
debate
Ukraine: how to achieve peace?
In the years after World War II, the United States supported reconstruction in Western Europe with billions of dollars through the Marshall Plan.
Brende said she wanted to promote demand for such a plan at the annual meeting. “We will also bring the CEOs together for this – under the motto ‘CEOs for Ukraine’.” The private sector must also play an important role in the country’s reconstruction.
“World at Historic Turning Point”
In line with its own statements, the forum is committed to ensuring that business activity is at the service of society and that all citizens of the world benefit equally. “The world is at a historic turning point and this requires us to address the current geoeconomic and geopolitical challenges with urgency and speed,” the WEF said in a statement.
With the war in Ukraine, the coronavirus pandemic and climate change, this year’s focus is on various global crises. Among other things, the consequences of war on supply chains, energy supply and food security will be discussed.
The website says: “Against a backdrop of increasing friction and global disruption, it will be the starting point for a new era of responsibility and global cooperation.” There will be lectures and workshops on eight different subject areas.
format criticism
The annual meeting of the foundation created in 1971 traditionally takes place in January in Davos. It was postponed to May due to travel restrictions imposed by the pandemic. The WEF last took place in Davos in January 2020 and thus before the outbreak of the global coronavirus pandemic – the most prominent guests at the time included US President Donald Trump and climate protection activist Greta Thunberg.
But the WEF is not without its critics either. It is elitist, non-transparent, anything but environmentally friendly and would not contribute anything to solving the great problems of humanity, hence the content. Recently, the WEF has caused a stir with its “The Great Reset” initiative – especially among conspiracy theorists.