Here's the latest
• Trump in Davos: US President Donald Trump is now meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. US envoy Steve Witkoff said negotiations to end Russia’s war were “down to one issue,” which a European official confirmed to CNN was related to territory.
• Greenland deal progress: Trump said negotiations regarding Greenland currently give US “total access” for defense. It comes after the president yesterday announced the framework of a deal on Greenland had been formed, ruling out military force and new tariffs on European nations opposing his ambitions.
• “Board of Peace”: Trump earlier unveiled his “Board of Peace,” with the signing ceremony attended by fewer than 20 countries. Trump said he wants the board, tasked with rebuilding Gaza and resolving global conflicts, to work with the United Nations, even as he criticized the UN. Trump called Gaza a “beautiful piece of property” when talking about reconstruction of the war-torn strip.
Trump-Zelensky meeting underway
A meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky is now underway in Davos, according to the Ukrainian Presidency.
These are the world leaders who joined Trump on stage for signing ceremony of "Board of Peace"
Several world leaders attended President Donald Trump’s signing ceremony for the newly unveiled “Board of Peace.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the leaders by title only at the ceremony. Those who joined Trump on stage included:
- President of Paraguay Santiago Peña
- Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif
- President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani
- President of Argentina Javier Milei
- Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan
- Former Prime Minister of Bulgaria Rosen Zhelyazkov
- President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
- Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban
- President of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto
- Prime Minister of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani
- Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Faisal bin Farhan
- Foreign Minister of Turkey Hakan Fidan
- Foreign Minister of Morocco Nasser Bourita
- Deputy Prime Minister of Jordan Ayman Al Safadi
- Minister of the Prime Minister’s Court of Bahrain Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa
- President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
- Chairman of the Executive Authority Affairs of the United Arab Emirates Khaldoon Al Mubarak
- President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev
- Prime Minister of Mongolia Gombojav Zandanshatar
Trump says Greenland negotiations allow US "total access" for defense
President Donald Trump said negotiations regarding Greenland currently give US “total access” for defense.
“It’s really being negotiated now, the details of it, but essentially it’s total access. It’s there’s no end, there’s no time limit,” Trump said in an interview with Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo.
Trump said the access will allow the placement of the Golden Dome defense system, saying, “We’re getting everything we want at no cost.”
“It’s a very important part, because it’s everything comes over Greenland. If the bad guys start shooting, it comes over Greenland. So we knock it down. It’s pretty infallible. It’s amazing,” he said.
The traditional transatlantic relationship is "dead," former European Council president tells CNN
Former European Council President Charles Michel told CNN he believes the transatlantic relationship “as we’ve known it for decades is dead,” and Europe will have to go through a period of “political confrontation” with the US as it reasserts itself.
“We are at a crossroads,” Michel told CNN in Brussels ahead of an emergency summit of EU leaders that was called to discuss President Donald Trump’s threats against Greenland.
The summit is proceeding even after Trump rowed back his threats of tariffs against European nations who opposed his ambitions for Greenland and ruled out using military force yesterday.
“Do we want to be a vassal, a humiliated vassal, forever, or do we want to be able to be master of our destiny?” Michel said.
Michel, whose tenure leading the European Council from 2019 to November 2024 overlapped with Trump’s first term, said he believes European leaders now need a new approach to the US president.
He offered a message to European leaders, saying: “Be tough, be bold. And there is one clear message that we have to address to the White House: It’s enough, and we are ready to use the tools we have in our possession. We have a lot of tools, and now it’s time to be respected.”
Trump's about-face at Davos on Greenland shines spotlight on relationship with NATO chief Mark Rutte
President Donald Trump’s decision to back away from his threat to impose tariffs on European nations over Greenland has shone the spotlight on NATO chief Mark Rutte, with whom Trump met before his about-turn.
Trump also announced he had agreed with Rutte a framework for a possible deal on Greenland. It’s not yet clear what’s included in the framework — or Rutte’s exact role in the negotiations — but it confirmed the Dutchman’s emergence as a pivotal figure for a frazzled Europe struggling to get through to the US president.
Read more about Rutte’s relationship with Trump.
Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt will open next week, says Palestinian official
The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt will open next week in both directions, a Palestinian official slated to lead a Trump-backed committee to run the battered enclave announced at Davos on Thursday.
“Opening Rafah signals that Gaza is no longer closed to the future and to the war,” he added.
Shaath – who was named head of the Palestinian National Committee for the Administration of Gaza as part of a transition to phase two of the US-led ceasefire between Israel and Hamas – made the remarks just days after Israel said it would refuse to re-open the border route.
Israel said it would not open the Rafah crossing, amid Israeli opposition over the lack of progress on Hamas disarmament and the remains of one hostage, Ran Gvili, still being held in Gaza.
A senior Israeli official told CNN on Thursday that the security cabinet would discuss “the issue of reopening the Rafah crossing” early next week. The official added that “a special effort is underway” to bring back Gvili’s remains.
CNN has reached out to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office for comment.
Zelensky has now arrived to Davos
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is now at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, according to video footage.
Two sources say US President Donald Trump is due to meet with his Ukrainian counterpart later today.
Putin says he’ll discuss using Russia’s frozen assets to fund Board of Peace membership with US officials
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday he will discuss using frozen assets to join US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace when he meets US representatives in Moscow.
Putin has not yet committed to joining the board, but has floated using Russian assets frozen in the US to pay the $1 billion fee for a permanent seat.
“We are prepared to allocate a billion dollars to this new structure, the Board of Peace, primarily to support the Palestinian people,” he said at the start of a meeting with the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas. “As I’ve already mentioned, this will come from funds frozen in the United States under the previous administration,” Putin said.
“I think this is entirely possible, we have discussed such options before with the US administration representatives, and today we are planning to meet in Moscow and also discuss this topic.”
In remarks made on Wednesday night, Putin suggested that an unspecified portion of the assets could be put towards the restoration of Ukraine. “Incidentally, the remaining part of the Russian assets frozen in the US could also be used for rebuilding the territories damaged during the hostilities after a peace agreement is signed between Russia and Ukraine,” the Russian leader said during a meeting with the country’s Security Council.
Putin added during the Security Council meeting he would discuss “these matters” with Abbas as well as US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner on Thursday.
Witkoff and Kushner are due in Moscow on Thursday for talks with Putin that will focus on a peace deal with Ukraine.
Trump's posturing over Greenland damaged transatlantic relationship, European officials say
Even though President Donald Trump backed away yesterday from his most potent threats for the US to take over Greenland, his posturing has damaged the transatlantic alliance, European officials told CNN.
One European diplomat described the last week as “a whirlwind of absurdity that damages transatlantic relations, distracts from Ukraine and makes China and Russia very happy.”
Similarly, Sweden’s Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch warned that NATO is “not out of the woods” yet after Trump walked back his threat to impose tariffs on European nations who opposed his Greenland ambitions.
“Let’s be very clear,” Busch told CNN. “The last few weeks — apart from a very turbulent first year — have been very damaging for the relationship between the European Union, Europe as a whole, and the US.”
Another European official struck a slightly more optimistic tone, noting that while “everything is transactional and unpleasant … we can still reach good results.”
CNN’s Jim Sciutto contributed reporting to this post.
"It's all happening": Trump basks in the pomp surrounding his new "Board of Peace"
President Donald Trump praised the members of his “Board of Peace” as “stars” in roughly 20 minutes of remarks ahead of his official signing ceremony, saying Thursday that they comprise “the biggest people, the most important people in the world.”
“When you use that genius that you have — that very unusual, very inspired genius — when you use that for peace, the opposite of peace has no chance,” he said.
Trump then sat on stage as the participating leaders came up one-by-one to sign the Board of Peace’s charter and exchange pleasantries.
“This is not just a ‘Board of Peace,’ this is a board of action,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a brief speech after signings. “It is going to be a successful effort, and you see it reflected here today among countries of different backgrounds from different parts of the world.”
In a video message played in the auditorium, Ali Shaath, chair of the Palestinian National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, said that the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza soon would be opening in both directions.
The ceremony kicked off a second day of meetings for Trump in Davos, with a handful of bilateral meetings expected over the next few hours. Trump is also slated to meet later with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, amid his continued efforts to negotiate a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.
“Well, I just want to tell you it’s all happening,” Trump said as he concluded the event, calling Gaza a “beautiful piece of property.”
“What it could be for so many people, it’ll be so, so great,” he added. “People that are living so poorly are going to be living so well.”
Trump talks about Gaza reconstruction, says "I'm a real estate person at heart"
US President Donald Trump called Gaza a “beautiful piece of property” and said he is a “real estate person at heart” when talking about reconstruction of the war-torn strip.
Trump said “people are going to be living so well.”
“But it all began with a location – that’s the vision. They look out on the waters. And very few people are – very few places are like it,” he said.
Earlier, the president touted the administration’s ceasefire plan in Gaza and his son-in-law Jared Kushner outlined how they would work towards rebuilding the enclave.
Some context: Despite the October ceasefire, Israeli fire, severe aid restrictions, food insecurity and flash floods have continued to exacerbate the crisis in Gaza. Eleven people were killed in the enclave on Wednesday, including three journalists, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
And since the winter began, 10 babies and children have died of hypothermia, it said, including a three month old baby who died Thursday. More than 400 people have been killed since the ceasefire overall.
This post has been updated with additional information.
Kushner pitches Gaza's "amazing potential" in outlining peace and redevelopment plan
Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, said Thursday that Gaza has “amazing potential” in a presentation outlining the administration’s ambitions for achieving permanent peace and rebuilding the region.
Kushner acknowledged at the outset that “peace is a different deal than a business deal.” But in a series of slides projected on screen in Davos, he laid out a “master plan” for redeveloping Gaza, saying the administration does “not have a plan B” beyond its multi-step effort to end the war and transform the region.
He stressed that much of that plan relies on Hamas demilitarizing, vowing that the US is “going to enforce” that part of the ceasefire agreement.
“If Hamas does not demilitarize, that will be what holds back Gaza and the people of Gaza from achieving their aspiration,” Kushner said.
The president’s son-in-law also urged attendees to put aside their skepticism and any rivalries with fellow nations on the “Board of Peace,” asking them to “just calm down for 30 days.”
NATO chief expects NATO allies to step up Arctic security this year under framework deal agreed with Trump
NATO chief Mark Rutte said the framework of a deal he discussed with President Donald Trump calls for NATO allies to increase their Arctic security measures, and expects results this year.
“We will come together in NATO with our senior commanders to work out what is necessary,” Rutte told Reuters at the World Economic Forum. “I have no doubt we can do this quite fast. Certainly, I would hope for 2026, I hope even early in 2026.”
He added that this push for Arctic security would not divert resources away from Ukraine.
Rutte also said that he and Trump did not discuss mining rare earth minerals in Greenland during the meeting which resulted in the US President backing away from his threat to impose tariffs on European nations who opposed his ambitions.
Earlier today in Davos, Rutte said he and Trump had discussed how NATO nations could “collectively make sure the Arctic stays safe (and) that the Russians and the Chinese stay out.”
Rutte also previously said Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland wasn’t discussed during his conversation with Trump, and a NATO spokesperson said he did not propose any “compromise” to Danish sovereignty in the talks.
CNN’s Todd Symons, Martin Goillandeau and Michael Rios contributed reporting.
Rubio says Board of Peace is about action, not "strongly worded letters"
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the newly founded Board of Peace a group of leaders “that are about action” rather than “strongly-worded letters”
Rubio said the board’s work in Gaza can “serve as an example” of what it can do.
“If we put the time and the effort that it requires – that I know this board will do – but I also think it will serve as an example of what’s possible in other parts of the world without losing focus on what’s before us now,” he said.
Stock markets rise after Trump dials down threats over Greenland
European stocks rose Thursday and US stock futures also pointed to a stronger open, building on a rally logged the previous day after US President Donald struck a more conciliatory note on Greenland.
Dow futures climbed 0.4%, S&P500 futures were up 0.6% and tech-heavy Nasdaq futures gained 0.8%. The benchmark STOXX Europe 600 index, which tracks stocks across the region, rose 1.2%.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump said Wednesday he wouldn’t use force to take Greenland, having previously refused to rule that out. Later in the day, he announced he’d reached a “framework of a future deal” on the territory following a meeting with the NATO secretary general and also that the tariffs he’d threatened to impose next month were off.
This all came as a relief to officials and investors, even though Trump remained firm that he would accept nothing less than full ownership of Greenland — a semiautonomous territory of Denmark .
Denmark’s OMX Copenhagen 20, which tracks the 20 most actively traded shares on Copenhagen’s stock exchange, jumped 2.3% Thursday.
“From the market point of view, it’s the classic TACO trade,” he added, referring to the so-called “Trump Always Chickens Out” trade.
Trump says he wants "Board of Peace" to work alongside the UN
US President Donald Trump said Thursday that he wants his new “Board of Peace” to work “in conjunction” with the United Nations, even as he criticized the UN for failing to live up to its potential.
Trump had previously suggested that the “Board of Peace,” which he formed chiefly to help rebuild Gaza, “might” eventually replace the UN. But on Thursday he said he wanted the two to work in combination, contending it could result in “something very, very unique for the world.”
Still, he had harsh words for the UN’s current performance, claiming it had played little role in mediating conflicts that Trump counts among the so-called wars he believes he’s ended.
“On the eight wars that I ended, I never spoke to the United Nations, not any of them,” Trump said. “They tried, I guess, and some of them, but they didn’t try hard enough.”
Trump says "Board of Peace" has started and "running beautifully"
President Donald Trump announced the “Board of Peace” has started work already and “it’s running beautifully.”
“We have a great group of people and incredible young people that are leading it from within,” he said during the announcement of the board in Davos.
The unveiled members include few of the United States’ European allies, and Trump said of the collected group, “I like, actually, this group. I like every single one of them. Can you believe it?” and added “Usually I have two or three that I don’t like. I don’t find them up here.”
Trump also touted the work on a peace plan for the conflict in Gaza, saying, “we released a plan for the permanent end to the conflict in Gaza, and I’m pleased to say that our vision was unanimously adopted by the United Nations Security Council late last year.”
This post has been corrected to reflect that few European countries attended.
Trump opens "Board of Peace" ceremony with boasts about the US economy and threats toward Hamas
US President Donald Trump opened a ceremony dedicated to his international “Board of Peace” with a digression focused on domestic politics, boasting about the US’ economic growth as more than a dozen world leaders looked on.
“We have a great mandate back at home, as I said yesterday the US economy is booming,” he said. “When America booms, the entire world booms.”
Trump went on to strike a similarly optimistic note on foreign affairs, claiming the world is now “more peaceful” than it was prior to his administration and insisting that his “Board of Peace” would soon help negotiate a lasting peace in Gaza.
Yet despite that, Trump referred to Hamas as made up of those who “were born with rifles in their hands,” again threatening aggression if it refuses a peace deal.
“They have to give up their weapons, and if they don’t do that, it’s going to be the end of them,” he said.
Trump's "Board of Peace" ceremony attended by fewer than 20 nations — and very few European allies
President Donald Trump’s signing ceremony for his new “Board of Peace” featured representatives from fewer than 20 countries — and few of the US’ European allies.
The nations represented on stage in Davos skewed heavily toward the Middle East and South America, with leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Argentina and Paraguay among those attending. The leader of Hungary, Viktor Orban, was among the leaders who appeared on stage with Trump.
“We are truly honored by your presence today,” Trump said, referring to them as in “most cases very popular leaders, some cases not so popular.”
The total number of attendees is fewer than the roughly 35 that a senior administration official predicted to reporters earlier this week. And it did not include any Western European nations, some of whom have raised concerns over the idea of a board dedicated to peace that might involve adversaries like Russia currently at war with one of their allies.
CORRECTION: This post has been corrected to note that Hungary’s Viktor Orban attended the ceremony.
Denmark cannot negotiate when it comes to sovereignty, prime minister says
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Denmark cannot negotiate on its sovereignty after President Donald Trump’s announcement that a framework for a deal on Greenland had been formed.
“We can negotiate on all political issues: security, investments, economics. But we cannot negotiate on our sovereignty,” Frederiksen said in a statement on Thursday.
Frederiksen has consistently opposed Trump’s calls for the US to take over Greenland – an autonomous Arctic territory which is part of Denmark.
Following a discussion with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump announced the framework and said he would no longer impose new tariffs on European nations that opposed his Greenland ambitions.
Rutte said Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland wasn’t discussed during his conversation with Trump, and a NATO spokesperson said he did not propose any “compromise” to Danish sovereignty in the talks.
