"Historyis at a turning point... This is really the moment when it is decided whetherbrute force will rule the world," Zelensky, sporting his trademark olivegreen T-shirt, said in an address via video link.
His speechkicked off in earnest the four-day World Economic Forum that gathers some 2,000business and economic leaders as well as experts, with Ukraine topping theagenda.
"Everyoneof you have to understand: We are defending you, personally...We are fighting,actually, for every one of you and everyone has to understand that," saidthe mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, another member of the large Ukrainiandelegation that travelled to Davos.
In starkcontrast to the past, Russian state institutions and private companies whichthrew some of the most glitzy parties with black caviar, vintage champagne andfoie gras, have not been invited to the Alpine resort this year.
The former"Russia House", Moscow"s base at Davos in past years, has been turnedinto a "Russian War Crimes House" by Ukrainian artists, exhibitingpictures of misery and devastation caused by the war in Ukraine.
Moscow hasdenied targeting civilians or involvement in war crimes while it carries outwhat it calls a "special military operation" in Ukraine and saysWestern sanctions and arms deliveries for Kyiv amount to a "proxywar" waged against it by the West.
"MAXIMUMSANCTIONS"
Zelenskyurged countries to put more pressure on Moscow and accused them of notexhausting sanctions.
"Thesanctions should be maximum, so that Russia - and every other potentialaggressor who wants to wage a brutal war against its neighbour - clearly knowsthe immediate consequences of their actions," he said.
He demandedan oil embargo, the blockage of all Russian banks and termination of all trade.Foreign businesses should withdraw completely from Russia, and the Russian ITindustry should be cut off from the West.
Thesanctions must set a precedent, deterring any other aggressors in the decadesto come, Zelensky said, adding Russia had caused its decline by its ownactions.
The renamingof the Russia House "is an example of their transformation, what Russiahas done to itself, of becoming a state of war criminals and what it brings tothe world: It inspires other potential aggressors to act," he said.
TheUkrainian former world boxing heavyweight champion, Wladimir Klitschko,demanded that sanctions also target Russian athletes.
"Herein Switzerland is the headquarters of the IOC, International Olympic Committee,and I believe that Russian Olympic team must be banned and notparticipate," he said.
"Nothingagainst the nationality or against the athletes, but they represent the regimeof Russia, this aggressive regime that has started this senseless war."
