US President Donald Trump has upended diplomatic protocols at the World Economic Forum in Davos, publicly disparaging the leaders of Ukraine and Russia while doubling down on his bizarre demand to purchase Greenland.

In a rambling 70-minute address that stunned the global elite, Trump referred to Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin as "stupid" if they failed to negotiate an immediate end to the war. The remarks came just hours before a scheduled high-stakes meeting with the Ukrainian President, casting a pall of uncertainty over the future of US aid to Kyiv.

The Greenland Ultimatum

Overshadowing the peace talks was Trump's escalation of his feud with the European Union. The US President explicitly threatened to impose punitive tariffs of 10%—rising to 25% by June—on European nations that oppose his bid to acquire Greenland. "We are looking at a complete and total purchase," Trump declared, framing the Arctic territory as a vital security asset.

• Trade War Imminent: The EU has already signaled it will freeze trade deals in retaliation.
• Diplomatic insults: Trump claimed Europe is "not recognizable" and heading in the "wrong direction."
• Global Markets Rattle: The uncertainty sent tremors through stock markets, with the dollar sliding against the Euro.

Impact on the Global South

For nations like Kenya, this resurgence of "transactional diplomacy" is a warning sign. Trump's willingness to weaponize tariffs against allies suggests a volatile period ahead for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and other trade pacts. A 10% tariff on European goods could also trigger inflationary pressure that would inevitably trickle down to import-dependent economies in East Africa.

As Zelenskyy prepares to meet Trump tomorrow, the message from Washington is clear: sovereignty is negotiable, and everything has a price tag. The question is whether Europe—and the world—will buy it.