Leaders at Davos warn of threat to 'rule of law,' call for global solidarity with Ukraine

By Aysu Bicer

DAVOS, Switzerland (AA) - With the Russia-Ukraine war, the world is currently going through its greatest crisis in the "post-war order," Switzerland's president said on Tuesday, warning that the rule of law was under threat, even in some democratic states, hurting the international system.

"Russia's war of aggression on Ukraine constitutes a brutal attack on a peaceful country, but it's also a brutal attack on international law and multilateralism," Alain Berset said at the opening speech of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in the Alpine town of Davos.

The war is causing great suffering and is playing a decisive role in global developments concerning democracy, he said, adding that this was why it was crucial that democratic countries stand in solidarity with Ukraine.

Vowing to make "every effort to strengthen international law," Berset underlined that the world needed strong, multilateral platforms "because the greatest present-day challenges are transnational climate change, pandemic war, migration, proliferation, and this annual meeting is also an important platform for global dialogue."

- Global transformation

In a speech of his own, the World Economic Forum's founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab said the whole world was witnessing the results of the COVID-19 pandemic that reshaped supply chains, catalyzing economic transformation.

The global economy is undergoing a deep transformation as well with the energy transition, he said, with "deep systemic transformation" also occurring in the world's geopolitical system.

"Internationally, we are moving to what some people would call a messy patchwork of powers, superpowers, emerging powers, middle powers, and also large cooperate and social media powers, all competing increasingly for power and influence," Schwab said, adding that this resulted in increased fragmentation and confrontation.

Schwab said the world had reached a turning point, confronted by existential problems including climate change, exploitation of nature, and possible nuclear incidents.

He warned that extreme poverty and viruses could lead large parts of humanity to extinction, adding that dealing with such risks had "fragmented populations."

He said building a more peaceful, resilient, inclusive, and sustainable world would be vital amid the challenges humanity faced.

"With mutual respect and cooperation. We believe that we can do that through collective responsibility, innovation, human goodwill, and ingenuity. We have the capacity to turn such challenges into opportunities," he said.

In a special address at the forum, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said Europe's reaction to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war was the latest example of how the EU "has pulled together when it matters the most."

Hailing Ukraine's courage since Russia launched the war on the country last February, she said: "There will be no impunity for these Russian crimes. We are in it for as long as it takes, and stand by our Ukrainian friends."