US President Donald Trump unveiled his controversial “Board of Peace” at the World Economic Forum in Davos and held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as he sought to reinforce his image as a global peacemaker following a dramatic reversal on threats against Europe and Greenland.
Trump’s appearance at the Swiss ski resort came a day after he abruptly announced he was scrapping proposed tariffs against European countries and ruling out the use of military force to take Greenland from Denmark—moves that helped ease tensions which had unsettled global leaders gathering at Davos.
On his second day at the forum, the US president presided over a signing ceremony for the charter of the “Board of Peace,” a new body he says will help resolve international conflicts. The initiative reportedly carries a $1 billion fee for permanent membership.
“I think it’s the greatest board ever formed,” Trump said after meeting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, one of several leaders who have agreed to join the body.
According to Trump, invitations have gone out to around 50 world leaders, with about 35 commitments secured so far. Those invited include Russian President Vladimir Putin, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Trump claimed Putin had agreed to participate, although the Kremlin has said it is still reviewing the invitation.
The launch of the board comes amid Trump’s long-running frustration over failing to win the Nobel Peace Prize, despite his repeated— and disputed—claims of having ended multiple global conflicts. Initially conceived as a mechanism to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction after the Israel-Hamas war, the board’s broad mandate has raised concerns among critics that it could rival the United Nations.
Key US allies such as France and Britain have expressed skepticism, while several Middle Eastern nations, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have signed on.
The inclusion of Putin has sparked unease among US allies and particularly in Ukraine, where Russia’s invasion is nearing its fourth year. Trump confirmed he was scheduled to meet Zelensky after the Board of Peace event, as negotiations toward a ceasefire remain stalled.
Speaking in Davos, Trump said Russia and Ukraine would be “stupid” not to reach a peace agreement.
“I believe they’re at a point now where they can come together and get a deal done. And if they don’t, they’re stupid — that goes for both of them,” he said.
Trump again asserted that he could have resolved the conflict within a day of taking office, while alternating between blaming Moscow and Kyiv for the lack of progress. He reiterated his view that Europe and NATO should take the lead in supporting Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Trump’s special envoy, businessman Steve Witkoff, is expected to travel from Davos to Moscow alongside Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to hold talks with Putin.
Zelensky has expressed concern that Trump’s earlier push to seize Greenland could distract from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, Trump said he had reached a “framework of a future deal” after meeting NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, adding that this understanding prompted him to waive the planned tariffs on European allies.
Rutte described his meeting with Trump as “very good” but cautioned that “there is still a lot of work to be done” on Greenland.
Trump has continued to argue that the mineral-rich Arctic island is strategically vital for US and NATO security in the face of growing Russian and Chinese influence.
