Some of the top quotes from Davos, including those from Dimon, Blinken, Altman, and Lagarde.

• Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, characterized Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a "strategic failure."
• Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez discussed the threat of far-right groups on democracy.
• Sam Altman, founder and CEO of OpenAI, discussed the future of generative AI and shared his thoughts on being fired.
• Chinese Premier Li Qiang called for greater “cooperation in innovation.”

This week, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the potential for generative artificial intelligence, interest rates being cut, and ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip were major topics of discussion.

Global trade, climate change, and the possibility of former President Donald Trump's return to the White House were also topics of discussion among business and political leaders.

Here’s a rundown of who said what.

Ursula von der Leyen

Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission's President, stated on Tuesday that Russia's growing isolation has led it to depend on China for both military and economic purposes.

During her speech at WEF, she stated that Russia is now reliant on China and is not achieving its strategic objectives.

She stated that Ukraine's almost two-year war with Moscow had resulted in a military failure, but Ukraine had managed to maintain its freedom and independence.

Jamie Dimon

According to CEO Jamie Dimon, Bitcoin is worthless and he referred to it as a "pet rock" in an interview with CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Smart chain-enriched blockchains have the potential to be useful, while others serve no purpose, according to Dimon.

Dimon responded to the change of heart of BlackRock CEO Larry Fink on bitcoin by stating, "I don't care. Please stop discussing this matter."

Dimon discussed Ukraine's conflict with Russia after meeting with its president, stating that the struggle is for freedom and democracy, and emphasizing the importance of "America first."

Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in a keynote speech in Davos on Tuesday that one man has caused at least 13 years of peace to be replaced with pain, pain, and crisis, affecting the entire world.

Russian President Vladimir Putin "personifies war," Zelenskyy stated, emphasizing: "he remains unchanged."

In his speech, Zelenskyy criticized the lack of global sanctions on Russia's nuclear industry, stating that it is a weakness of the West that Putin, the only terrorist in the world who took a nuclear power plant hostage, is still able to operate in the industry.

Javier Milei

Javier Milei, Argentina's President and an anarcho-capitalist, urged business and political leaders at Davos to reject socialism.

According to a translation, Milei stated on Wednesday that the Western world is in peril.

He stated that the values of the West are endangered because those responsible for defending them are being influenced by a worldview that inevitably leads to socialism and poverty.

Adena Friedman

Adena Friedman, CEO, believes the Federal Reserve should exercise caution before reducing interest rates.

At a CNBC-moderated panel at WEF, Friedman stated on Tuesday that although there are indications that rate cuts may be necessary as the year progresses, the issue is when to begin. He added that if he were the Fed, he would be cautious about starting too early.

While inflation is moving in the correct direction, the Fed anticipates it to moderate, which could make it more challenging to lower interest rates.

Sam Altman

Sam Altman, founder and CEO of OpenAI, discussed the potential impact of artificial general intelligence (AGI), stating: "While it may alter the world less than we anticipate, it will affect employment significantly less than we believe."

At a private gathering at the Bloomberg House in Davos, Switzerland, he stated that AGI could be developed in the near future.

Altman described his firing from OpenAI as "wild," feeling "super confused" and "super caught off guard."

The removal of Altman from OpenAI was due to concerns about AI safety and his role in protecting it.

Antony Blinken

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Putin's decision to invade Ukraine has "precipitated virtually everything he sought to prevent."

During a panel discussion on Wednesday, he stated that Ukraine has been a significant strategic failure for both Vladimir Putin and Russia in numerous ways.

Blinken condemned Trump's choice to withdraw from the Iran nuclear agreement, which resulted in the reinstatement of comprehensive sanctions against the nation.

Blinken stated that tearing up the Iran nuclear agreement was a grave error as it allowed Iran's nuclear program to escape from a controlled situation. As a result, the U.S. is now in an undesirable position.

Christine Lagarde

Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, anticipates that 2023 will mark the start of economic normalization, but predicts that this year will be characterized by "non-normality."

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Friday, she stated that consumption, trade, and inflation normalized last year, following a post-pandemic period she characterized as "strange, extraordinary, and difficult to analyze."

During the pandemic, consumer spending decreased, resulting in an increase in savings, while global trade was also affected. In October 2022, euro zone inflation reached 10.6%, but it dropped off in 2023 and rose again to 2.9% in December.

Lagarde stated that although these trends indicate a "normalization," we are not moving towards "normality."

Emmanuel Macron

Emmanuel Macron, the French President, stated on Wednesday that Europe needs to become more dominant globally before the upcoming U.S. elections in 2020.

"2024 will be a crucial year for Europeans. We must demonstrate our ability to be more prominent and make greater efforts, regardless of what occurs in the United States," he stated, according to a translation.

Macron also expressed concerns about what the election could mean for U.S.-China tensions.

The danger for Europeans is having the incorrect agenda, as stated.

Dmytro Kuleba

Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's Foreign Minister, stated on CNBC Thursday that he believes there will be no significant change in support for his country if Trump is re-elected later this year.

"I don't believe there is a potential for Putin and Trump to agree on something behind Ukraine's back if Trump becomes president," he said.

Kuleba stated that the atmosphere in Davos was optimistic, with individuals focusing on finding answers rather than solely debating issues.

Michelle Yeoh

Michelle Yeoh, an actress, producer, and United Nations Development Programme ambassador, received a Crystal Award at the World Economic Forum, which honors artists who serve as role models, as determined by the WEF.

Tania Bryer of CNBC asked about the significance of the award, to which she replied, "It allows us to unite the world in hope during challenging times."

Yeoh aims to bring attention to under-recognized global issues and is advocating against careless driving, as 1.3 million people die on roads annually.

If the breadwinner in a third-world family gets into an accident and is incapacitated or dies, the family will not be able to escape poverty.

Pedro Sanchez

Western democracies' biggest worry is the increase of far-right political organizations, as stated by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in a conversation with CNBC.

The biggest concern for Western democracies, he said Wednesday, is not only the political fragmentation but also the advance of the far-right.

Sanchez stated that it would be easier for the Commission, Council, and European Parliament if there were more progressive or center seats than far-right seats prior to the European Parliament elections this year.

Li Qiang

During an address to the World Economic Forum on Tuesday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang emphasized the need for increased "collaboration in innovation."

Instead of being used to limit or control the growth of other nations, the advancements in science and technology should benefit all of humanity, as he stated.

Beijing has repeatedly requested that Washington remove restrictions on Chinese companies that hinder their ability to purchase advanced technology from U.S. firms, despite Li not mentioning any countries in his speech.

Li stated that the Chinese economy experienced growth of approximately 5.2% in 2023. He emphasized that in order to foster economic growth, they did not rely on large-scale stimulus measures. Instead, they focused on sustainable growth without taking on excessive risks for the future.

Isaac Herzog

Israel is withholding potential threats in the Middle East that could eventually reach Europe and the United States, warned Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

He stated on Thursday that if Israel did not exist, Europe would be at risk, followed by the United States, while discussing Israel's ongoing conflict with Palestinian militant group Hamas and Lebanese faction Hezbollah.

In a speech in Davos, he stated that we are engaged in a universal struggle for freedom.

On the world stage, Herzog called for the release of Kfir Bibas and all hostages held by Hamas, who turned one on Thursday.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the Iranian Foreign Minister, stated that his country aims to put an end to the conflict in Gaza.

He stated that the "support of Israel by the U.S." was the "cause of instability in the region."

Amir-Abdollahian advised CNBC on Tuesday that the U.S. should not link their future to that of Netanyahu, stating, "Mr. Biden should not tie their destiny to the fate of Netanyahu."

Sergio Ermotti

Sergio Ermotti, CEO, stated that it was "quite surreal" to return to lead the bank last year after being in the position for nine years from 2011 to 2020.

In March 2023, when Credit Suisse was acquired by the bank, Ermotti stated that clients and employees were initially taken aback, but now they have come to accept the new structure.

Ermotti described the period since he took over as “pretty good.”

Marc Benioff

Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce, stated that the tech industry is taking measures to ensure the safe development of artificial intelligence to prevent a catastrophic event like the "Hiroshima moment."

Benioff stated on a World Economic Forum panel that the last year or two have been a significant advancement for AI.

He stated that he didn't want a catastrophe to occur.

Ray Dalio

The U.S. presidential election and geopolitical events will significantly affect markets in 2024, according to investor Ray Dalio.

He stated that the risks in geopolitics are not priced in because it is challenging to predict their outcomes.

Dalio stated that it is crucial for China and the U.S. to cooperate effectively when asked which country posed a greater threat to markets.

He stated that our biggest threat does not come from China, but rather from ourselves.

Mark Carney

Mark Carney, the UN's special envoy on climate action and finance, stated on CNBC that he believes sustainability remains a priority for investors.

In 2023, the former governor of the Bank of England stated that investment in clean energy increased by 50% to $1.8 trillion from $1.2 trillion in 2022.

On Thursday, Carney stated that there is a significant increase in investment in clean energy, particularly in electric vehicles (EVs) and the entire supply chain.