Karin Eriksson: Zelenskyj wants more than just weapons

It is not so common to go to the North in November to enjoy the warmth, but Ukraine's leaders need the humanity of the North. So while Russia, Ukraine and the United States sent delegations to official-level negotiations in Abu Dhabi, Zelensky went on a two-day visit to Copenhagen.

There was a time, some years after the outbreak of war, when large parts of the Western world regarded him as a savior. A speech to the US Congress in December 2022 was the climax of the cult: Politicians from both parties reached out to grab the Ukrainian president's hands and pat his shoulders and back. They cheered and threw kisses after the speech.

After Donald Trump's return to the White House, Zelenskyi has found himself being scolded and humiliated by the Americans.

In the Nordic countries, he is still treated as a statesman. During the past 24 hours, the President of Ukraine has, among other things, participated in a working dinner with the Nordic Prime Ministers, received an audience with King Frederik and Crown Prince Christian and held consultations with the Danish party leaders in the Norwegian Parliament. On Wednesday morning, he laid a wreath at the Kastellet, in honor of Danish soldiers. Then, as the first foreign head of state and government ever, he was allowed to give a speech from the lectern in the Norwegian Parliament. He elicited laughter when he made jabs at Trump about Greenland ("didn't realize that what he really wanted was to become a little more Danish"). Afterward, Zelenskyi was hailed with a standing ovation by politicians from right to left. Only one member, a political savage, boycotted.

The interest does not lie. Trump can blow off sanctions to seize Russian diesel and try to reduce fuel costs at home. Russia's western-oriented neighbours, the states around the Baltic Sea, on the other hand, have every reason to fear concessions towards Moscow. At the same time, the Nordic region has also become the arena for a conflict over the strategy for peace. The debate can be described as a fight between realists and idealists, but is rather a fight about different interpretations of what is called realpolitik.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre are starting from their countries' pragmatic stance towards Washington and Moscow, and are actively trying to influence both Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen represents another line - the one that claims that the language of power is the only thing that Putin understands. During Zelensky's visit, the Danish government announced that Ukraine will receive new billions for air defense and emergency support to repair and protect Ukrainian electricity and heat networks. Defense technology cooperation is being expanded, with the development of the robotic defense system Freya. Ukraine will open special offices for the Freya project in both Copenhagen and Oslo.

But Zelenskyj did not come to Denmark only to talk about weapons systems. In a speech at the University of Copenhagen on Tuesday, he stated that Europe needs to decide who will represent the continent in the peace negotiations. "Everyone's vote is very important. But 30 people cannot talk to Putin," said the Ukrainian president, according to Danish Politiken. He repeated the message at a press conference and in his speech to the Norwegian Parliament: Europe must sit at the table.

And who represents Europe?

Mette Frederiksen has dismissed all speculation that she is seeking assignments as a mediator. Instead, she refers to "Europe's institutions".

But Ukraine and Zelenskyi need a human being.