By Peter Omopo
United States President Donald Trump is expected to unveil his controversial “Board of Peace” at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday, as part of efforts to reinforce his claim as a global peacemaker.
Trump is also scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the forum, amid ongoing negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire in the nearly four-year-old war between Russia and Ukraine.
The announcement comes a day after the US president stepped back from earlier threats to impose tariffs on Europe and ruled out the use of military force to take over Greenland from Denmark, easing tensions that had unsettled the gathering of global political and business leaders.
On his second day in the Swiss ski resort, Trump is expected to promote the newly created Board of Peace, which is designed to mediate international conflicts. A signing ceremony for the organisation’s charter is planned at the forum.
The board, which reportedly requires a $1 billion commitment for permanent membership, has drawn both interest and criticism. Trump has invited several world leaders to join, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
“I think it’s the greatest board ever formed,” Trump said on Wednesday while meeting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, one of the leaders who have agreed to participate.
Although initially conceived to oversee post-war reconstruction in Gaza following the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the board’s mandate is not limited to the territory. This has raised concerns among critics that the initiative could be designed to rival the United Nations.
While key US allies such as France and Britain have expressed skepticism, several countries—particularly in the Middle East—have endorsed the initiative. Saudi Arabia and Qatar are among those reported to have agreed to join.
A senior Trump administration official disclosed that about 35 world leaders have committed to the board so far, out of roughly 50 invitations issued. Trump also claimed that Putin had agreed to participate, although the Kremlin has said it is still reviewing the invitation.
The possible inclusion of the Russian leader has heightened concerns among US allies and Ukraine, which continues to seek an end to Russia’s invasion.
Trump said he would meet with Zelensky after the Board of Peace event, as ceasefire talks continue. Speaking at Davos on Wednesday, the US president said both Russia and Ukraine would be “stupid” not to reach a peace agreement, reiterating his claim that he could have resolved the conflict quickly after taking office.
“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,” Trump said.
Despite his skepticism over sustained US support for Ukraine and his assertion that Europe and NATO should shoulder more responsibility, Trump has maintained that his personal rapport with Putin could help end the war.
Meanwhile, Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to travel to Moscow from Davos alongside Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to hold talks with the Russian president on Thursday.
Zelensky has previously expressed concern that Trump’s push to take control of Greenland could distract from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, Trump said on Wednesday that he had reached a “framework of a future deal” after meeting NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, prompting him to suspend tariffs that were set to take effect against European allies on February 1.
Rutte confirmed the meeting was productive but noted that discussions on Greenland were ongoing. Trump has consistently argued that the mineral-rich Arctic island is strategically vital to US and NATO security interests in countering Russia and China.
