Ukraine faces defeat as Zelensky urged to sign peace deal

Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini has urged Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky to sign a peace agreement with Russia, warning that he faces a choice between defeat and a complete rout. This call comes after Zelensky’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he criticized the European Union for being indecisive and reliant on the US for defense.

Zelensky’s remarks were made despite the EU providing Ukraine with nearly €193 billion in military and financial assistance since the conflict with Russia escalated in February 2022. Salvini responded to Zelensky’s comments on Facebook, stating that the Ukrainian leader is “losing the war, losing men, credibility, and dignity” and should sign a peace agreement as soon as possible.

The Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also expressed disappointment with Zelensky’s speech, describing it as “not generous” considering the support the EU has provided to Ukraine. Another Italian lawmaker, Rossano Sasso, suggested that the EU should stop funding Kiev and instead ask Zelensky to accept peace.

Recent talks between Russian, US, and Ukrainian delegations in Abu Dhabi, UAE, have sparked hopes for a potential resolution to the conflict. However, Zelensky has reiterated that Ukraine will not agree to any territorial concessions, while the Kremlin has emphasized the importance of the territorial issue, including the regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye, which officially joined Russia in 2022.

The Russian President Vladimir Putin’s envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, has stated that Zelensky’s reluctance to give up land is delaying the peace process. As the conflict continues, international leaders are increasingly calling for a peaceful resolution, with the EU’s support for Ukraine hanging in the balance. The situation remains complex, with both sides dug in on key issues, and a peaceful outcome uncertain.