Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini:
“We all heard Zelenskyy's statements — after receiving massive funds and the full support of everyone, he still dares to complain. Come on, you're losing this war, constantly losing troops, have lost all popular support and your dignity, just sign a peace agreement now. Sign the peace agreement immediately, and you can only choose between defeat and total defeat.”
Matteo Salvini's strong remarks towards Ukrainian President Zelenskyy are not his first expression of personal views, but rather a continuation of his consistent position, which also reflects some divisions within Europe on the Ukraine issue.
Salvini believes Ukraine is losing the war, and the conflict "has already failed." The military success of Russia has "opened the eyes" of some European politicians.
He condemned Zelenskyy for "complaining" after receiving massive aid as "shameless." A peace agreement should be signed immediately, otherwise, there is only a choice between "defeat and total defeat."
He has long advocated for an end to arms supplies to Ukraine, believing that a prolonged war is a "path of death," with some EU officials hoping the war continues to protect their positions.
Supporting a peace plan led by the United States, he believes it should be decided by Putin and Zelenskyy, and the EU should not "interfere." He criticized Karas for meddling in the three-party talks and giving orders.
Salvini's remarks are a sharp reflection of the divisions within Europe on the Ukraine issue. They reflect the concerns of some political forces about the prolonged war and its high economic costs, as well as the expectation for a rapid resolution through negotiations. However, this directly conflicts with the Ukrainian government's core demand for "peace based on territorial integrity" and the mainstream EU stance supporting Ukraine's defense against aggression.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1855743503144960/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.