The Western Allies are seeking greater unity and increased support for Ukraine at the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting, Davos, Switzerland, this week.
Russia is absent from this year's summit of world political and business leaders amid fears of a new Russian incursion from Belarus into Ukraine.
Davos 2023 is no longer a place for the Russian elite to "play". Held in an upscale Swiss ski resort, WEF has indeed become a vehicle for lavish parties and investment meetings with Russian politicians, executives and academics.
Instead, contingents of Ukraine's closest allies from the Baltic, Nordic and eastern European countries, along with European Union and NATO leaders, all attended. The gathering in Davos will be followed by a key meeting in Ramstein, Germany on Friday which will see further advanced weaponry for Ukraine.
"On my way from Lithuania to @Davos where I was invited to speak. Lithuania is a good friend of Ukraine, so you know what I will say. #ArmUkraineNow," said Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis on Twitter, Monday, January 16, 2023 .
Of the G7 leaders, only German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will address the annual event. Germany is currently under pressure to deliver its advanced Leopard tanks to Ukraine.
"The absence of big powers makes the WEF a platform for medium and small countries, who want to speak and be heard amid Russian aggression," said a European diplomat.
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion of Ukraine on February 24 last year. Moscow has described the aggression on Ukraine as a "special military operation" to "denazify" and demilitarize its neighbour.
Russia and Belarus started joint military drills yesterday. This has fueled fears in Kyiv and the West that Moscow could use its allies to launch a new ground offensive in Ukraine.
The issue of Ukraine dominated the WEF's last major meeting in May. Kyiv has sent another high-level delegation to this year's meeting. Kyiv will focus on placing blocks for future reconstruction.
Its president Volodymyr Zelensky said late last year after talks with Larry Fink, chief executive of the world's largest investment fund BlackRock, that the business was ready to invest in Ukraine's recovery and would open its stall in Davos. "Ukraine's posture and prospects will be presented there," he said.
Olena Zelenska, wife of the President of Ukraine, will deliver a "special message" at the WEF meeting on Tuesday, January 17, 2023.
The World Economic Forum is a forum designed to promote peace and economic integration. Meeting mandates and remaining impartial may prove tricky for forums. Organizers had a panel session charting Russia's trajectory, but none of the speakers were in Russian.