Trump to meet Zelensky at Davos as world leaders sign up to his ‘Board of Peace’ following UK snub: Live updates

Mark Rutte appeared to have pulled off a diplomatic coup by talking US President Donald Trump down from his Greenland demands – but questions over any deal have left European allies feeling wary.

Trump’s threats over the vast Arctic territory – an autonomous part of NATO member Denmark – had plunged relations between Europe and its key ally Washington into their deepest crisis in decades.

While Europe breathed a sigh of relief that the immediate threat to NATO seemed to have passed, details remains scant on what might have been agreed.

Speaking to the AFP News agency, one EU diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: ‘What is this deal exactly. Trump crossed the Rubicon. He might do it again. There is no coming back to what it was.

A second NATO official added: ‘We are not yet 100 percent out of the woods, but I guess we can say another war was prevented.’

Talks with the US on Greenland will aim to ensure China and Russia do not get military and economic access to the Arctic territory, NATO’s chief has said.

Following talks with Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General, last night, Donald Trump backed down on threats to seize Greenland by force, announcing a vague deal aimed at ensuring security of the vast island.

Rutte said one ‘work stream’ to emerge from the meeting was ‘that we ensure that the Chinese and the Russians will not gain access to the Greenland economy’ or militarily.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has welcomed Donald Trump withdrawing his threats to impose additional tariffs on European countries over Greenland.

Merz said Trump was right to drop the punishment and insisted Europe will be ready to respond if tariffs were brought in.

He told the audience at Davos, ‘I welcome President Trump’s remarks from last night. This is the right way to go, because any threats to acquire European territory by force would be unacceptable.’

On the threat of extra US tariffs over Greenland, Merz said Europe’s response would be ‘united, calm, measured and firm’.

It comes as Trump last night dropped his tariff threat over Europe after ruling out using force to seize the Arctic territory.

The President said he and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte agreed on a ‘framework’ for a future deal involving Greenland.

The UK is set to snub Donald Trump’s board of peace signing ceremony today amid anger at Vladimir Putin’s involvement.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said there were ‘concerns’ about the invite for the Russian dictator to join the body given his invasion of Ukraine.

Mr Trump is expected to launch the board – which includes Labour ex-PM Tony Blair as an executive member – formally in Davos later. But there are concerns about a new standoff with allies after a tentative solution was found to the bitter spat over his demands for Greenland.

Critics have warned that the organisation – which has a £1billion fee for permanent membership – appears to be an attempt to supplant the UN.

Originally meant to oversee the rebuilding of Gaza after the war between Hamas and Israel, the board’s charter makes no reference to the Middle East crisis.

Key US allies including France and Britain have expressed skepticism but others have signed up, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where Donald Trump made his presence known yesterday.

After an excoriating in which he attacked Europe over its refusal to bow to his demands over Greenland, the US President today turns his attentions to Ukraine and his ‘Board of Peace’ – the group tasked with resolving global conflict.

But the UK has already indicated it will not be taking part amid anger over an invite to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump will meet Zelensky as the US push to secure a deal to end the almost four-year war between Russia and Ukraine.

The meeting at the World Economic Forum comes hours before US envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner hold talks with Putin in Moscow.

Join us throughout the day as we bring you the latest from Davos.