Trump unveils ‘Board of Peace’ ahead of Zelensky meeting in Davos

Fewer than 20 countries joined a signing ceremony for a new board whose charter was signed on stage (Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it a “board of action”); former President Trump praised members as “stars,” criticized the United Nations while saying the board should work with it, and called Gaza “a beautiful piece of property,” adding he’s “a real estate person at heart.” Russian President Vladimir Putin floated using frozen Russian assets to pay a proposed $1 billion fee for a permanent seat but did not commit; Jared Kushner is due in Moscow to discuss a Ukraine peace plan with Putin. Trump is scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Davos; U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war are “down to one issue,” which a European official said relates to territory. Ali Shaath, named chair of the U.S.-backed Palestinian National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, announced the Rafah crossing with Egypt will open next week in both directions, but Israel says it will not reopen Rafah amid concerns about Hamas disarmament and the remains of a hostage and will discuss the matter in its security cabinet. Trump also announced a framework deal on Greenland, ruled out military seizure of the island, and said he would not impose new tariffs on European countries opposing his plan; European officials said his recent behavior has damaged transatlantic relations and distracted from Ukraine, though some diplomats saw possible productive outcomes. The Davos rollout featured brief bilateral meetings and drew mixed international reactions, raising questions about financing, Israeli security conditions, and the board’s legitimacy. The article ends with a single-sentence quote in which the speaker says they “like every single one of them,” offering blanket approval without further context. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, President Donald Trump unveiled a new “Board of Peace,” which he said will help rebuild Gaza and negotiate global conflicts; Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the board as focused on action rather than rhetoric. Trump opened the ceremony but quickly digressed into domestic politics, boasting about U.S. economic growth and making quips, and he touted a U.S. ceasefire/peace plan for Gaza that he said was “unanimously adopted by the United Nations Security Council” (the article notes a correction that few European countries attended). Jared Kushner outlined plans for rebuilding Gaza. Markets reacted positively after Trump softened his stance on Greenland and backed away from threatened tariffs, lifting European stocks and U.S. futures. Despite the ceasefire, conditions in Gaza remain dire: continued Israeli fire, severe aid restrictions, food shortages and flash floods have worsened the crisis; the Palestinian Health Ministry reported 11 killed (including three journalists) on Wednesday, at least 10 infants and children have died of hypothermia since winter began, and more than 400 people have been killed overall since the ceasefire. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, President Trump used a “Board of Peace” ceremony to praise a seaside property as the basis for a visionary rebuilding project and announced a new Board of Peace to help rebuild Gaza, saying it will work “in conjunction” with the United Nations despite criticizing the UN’s past performance. Jared Kushner outlined the Trump administration’s “master plan” for a “New Gaza,” calling the area full of “amazing potential,” stressing that peace is not a business deal, insisting there is “no plan B,” and tying implementation to Hamas demilitarization — which the U.S. says it will enforce — while urging skeptical countries to “calm down for 30 days” and cooperate. Separately, NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte told the forum that allies will move quickly on Arctic security measures without diverting resources from Ukraine, expects concrete steps by 2026, and said Greenland’s sovereignty and proposed rare‑earth mining were not part of any compromise.