Donald Trump unveils a new ‘Board of Peace’ and Jared Kushner’s ‘New Gaza’ master plan at Davos, amid global scepticism and Ukraine war talks.
DAVOS: US President Donald Trump departed the World Economic Forum on Thursday after launching a new “Board of Peace” and presenting ambitious plans for a “New Gaza”.
Trump positioned himself as a global peacemaker, though his initiatives were met with widespread international scepticism.
He later met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with both leaders describing their talks as good.
Trump stated Russia’s nearly four-year war with Kyiv “has to end”.
Zelensky announced upcoming “trilateral” talks involving Washington, Moscow and Kyiv.
He said he reached agreement with Trump on post-war US security guarantees for Ukraine but conceded dialogue with the US president was “not simple”.
The Ukrainian leader criticised European allies for being too slow to counter Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“What’s missing: time or political will?” Zelensky asked.
Trump’s “Board of Peace” was created after he expressed frustration at failing to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
He has accused the United Nations of failing to resolve international conflicts.
“Well this is exciting,” Trump said as he was joined on stage by leaders from 19 countries to sign the board’s founding charter.
“This board has the chance to be one of the most consequential bodies ever created,” he said.
The body, with Trump as chairman, was initially designed to oversee the Gaza truce and reconstruction.
Its purpose has since expanded to resolving all international conflicts, sparking concerns it rivals the UN.
Key US allies including France and Britain have expressed doubts.
Countries have been asked to pay $1 billion for permanent membership, and an invitation for Putin has drawn criticism.
Trump said the organisation would work “in conjunction” with the United Nations.
A large part of the ceremony focused on plans for shattered Gaza.
Gaza’s newly appointed administrator said the Rafah border crossing would reopen in both directions next week.
Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner then showed slides of a “master plan” for Gaza’s reconstruction.
The slides included maps of new settlements and renderings of seafront hotels and apartments under the caption “New Gaza”.
“It could be a hope. It could be a destination,” Kushner said.
Trump told Hamas to disarm under the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire accord or face destruction.
He added that he was ready to “talk” with regional foe Iran.
The 19 country representatives on stage included close populist allies Viktor Orban and Javier Milei.
Officials from Middle Eastern monarchies keen to curry favour were also present.
Trump said he expects around 50 countries to join, including Putin, who said he was still studying the invitation.
Zelensky, also invited, has said he could not envisage working alongside the Russian leader.
Trump said he was hopeful of a deal soon to end the Ukraine war.
Zelensky told the forum that documents being drafted with Washington to end the war were “nearly, nearly ready”.
Zelensky had voiced concern that Trump’s push to seize Greenland could divert focus from Russia’s invasion.
Tensions over Greenland eased after Trump announced a “framework of a future deal” and dropped tariff threats.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the island wanted a “peaceful dialogue” with Washington.
“We have some red lines,” he told a press conference.
“We have to respect our territorial integrity. We have to respect international law, sovereignty.”
Global stock markets rallied with relief at Trump’s Greenland climbdown.
Some traders dubbed the rally the “TACO” trade, for “Trump Always Chickens Out”.
As European leaders gathered in Brussels for a summit, worries lingered over lasting damage to transatlantic ties.
