Russia-Ukraine Crisis: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, commemorating victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, said on Monday his country would win its war with Russia and would not cede any territory. Italian Premier Mario Draghi meets with US President Joe Biden this week in Washington as Europe faces another “whatever it takes” moment with Russia’s war in Ukraine raging on its eastern flank.
Both Rome and Washington will emphasise their historic friendship and shared desire to help Ukraine defend itself from Russia’s two-month-old invasion when the leaders meet on Tuesday. Draghi is pushing for even a limited truce to allow talks to resume, mindful also of the impact on Italy should the war spillover Ukraine’s borders.
Statements by Biden are suggesting both regime change and the goal of weakening Russia. These differences reflect not only Italy’s geographic closeness to the fighting but also its historic political and economic ties with Russia. Italy gets 40 per cent of its natural gas from Russia, and economic trade last year amounted to 20 billion euros.
Russian forces backed by tanks and artillery were conducting “storming operations” on the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol. The last of the civilians were evacuated from the plant Sunday night and around 2,000 fighters are believed to be holed up inside its bunkers. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday there was no doubt Moscow’s “special military operation” in Ukraine would achieve its result, according to reports.
Putin was speaking after overseeing the annual military parade on Moscow’s Red Square to mark the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two. “All plans are being fulfilled. A result will be achieved – on that account, there is no doubt,” he was quoted as saying. Victory Day in Russia marks the Soviet Union’s triumph over Nazi Germany in 1945.