Ukraine remains cautious about the prospect of new ceasefire negotiations amid the ongoing war with Russia. Kyiv also highlighted Moscow’s alleged efforts to sow chaos in Africa as a distraction from its weaknesses. This perspective was voiced by President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Ambrosetti Forum in Cernobbio, Italy, one of Europe’s most prominent financial gatherings.
He argued that Russia is attempting to generate chaos in Africa to divert global attention away from its current weaknesses. According to Zelensky, such tactics prove the regime is not strong, and the world should see through these maneuvers. He asserted that true power is connected to peace, not war, and that peace would be the shared outcome sought by Ukraine and its allies.
Prigozhin, test
In this context, Zelensky rejected the notion that current conditions favor negotiations with Moscow. He noted that the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group, could be interpreted as a sign of weakness within the Russian leadership if confirmed. Zelensky remarked that if Putin was responsible for Prigozhin’s death, it would further expose vulnerabilities within the Kremlin and raise concerns about the certainty of future commitments.
He criticized the credibility of any assurances given to Prigozhin, arguing that Putin’s word has repeatedly proved unreliable. The Ukrainian leader emphasized that trust cannot be based on such assurances, underscoring a broader skepticism about Russia’s willingness to honor promises in ongoing diplomacy.
septet
Amid these discussions, Ukraine expressed gratitude to supporters for their solidarity. Italy is set to preside over the Group of Seven in the coming year, and Kyiv thanked Italy for its political backing as well as the European Union for endorsing Ukraine’s candidacy and security commitments. Zelensky conveyed confidence that the moment has arrived for strong and decisive steps to bolster European security. He also welcomed Italy’s commitment to providing Ukraine with a mature defensive framework, highlighting the potential of an advanced anti-aircraft defense system to reinforce Ukraine’s protection against aerial threats.