Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister: “Zelenskyy is Ungrateful – Sign a Peace Agreement Before More Ukrainian Men Die”

Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini says he is tired of the war in Ukraine and what he perceives as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s ingratitude for the EU’s support. This comes after the Ukrainian leader’s criticism of European nations at the WEF meeting in Davos. Salvini has let Zelenskyy’s circle know that, in his view, Ukraine can never win the war and is instead risking the loss of even more Ukrainian men at the front without achieving anything. His appeal was to sign a peace agreement now – a call that received a clear response: stopping the war is not an option, as Ukraine claims to be fighting for Europe’s peace.

During the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy adopted an unusually reproachful tone towards the EU, despite its unwavering support, and also took a stance against U.S. President Donald Trump, who would have preferred to end the war earlier.

In his speech, Zelenskyy repeatedly criticized European leaders, claiming they lack both responsibility and action, while showering praise on the American president. The tone of his remarks drew attention, not least because it is Europe that has played a decisive role in enabling Ukraine’s resistance against Russia’s invasion.

This is especially notable given that European NATO countries today are buying American weapons using taxpayers’ money and then sending them to Zelenskyy. Even Trump has made it clear that the US is no longer pouring money into the war in Ukraine, but is now profiting from it instead.

– We are profiting from the war, Trump told The New York Times.

Printout from New York Times interview with Trump January 11, 2026. Facsimile

EU Leaders Keep Silent – But Not Salvini

While the majority of EU leaders remained silent and accommodating in the face of Zelenskyy’s criticism, there was one top politician who decided to stick his neck out and was unwilling to accept what he perceives as ingratitude from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. According to him, Zelenskyy has no right to complain that the EU isn’t doing enough, as the union’s main focus since Russia’s invasion in spring 2022 has precisely been Ukraine.

Large parts of the EU’s budgetary priorities have been redirected into a massive flow of billions from taxpayers to make Ukraine’s defense possible, while the EU has clearly signaled that its support has no end date and that further significant sums are planned to be paid out in the future.

On January 25, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, leader of the national conservative Lega party, issued a call to the Ukrainian president to immediately sign a peace agreement with Russia.

– We hear how Zelenskyy, after receiving all this money, effort, and help, still has the gall to complain, Salvini said, continuing:

– My friend, you are losing the war, you are losing men, losing authority and dignity: sign a peace agreement as soon as possible. You have to choose between defeat and collapse.

Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini:

We have heard Zelensky who, after all the money, after all the efforts, after all the aid, even has the nerve to complain.

My friend, you are losing the war, you are losing men, you are losing credibility and dignity.

Sign the… pic.twitter.com/UP7LpZwrFF

— Clash Report (@clashreport) January 26, 2026

Foreign Minister: “Ungrateful Towards Europe”

Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also reacted to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s criticism of Europe during his speech in Davos. Tajani emphasized that Europe has guaranteed Ukraine’s independence and has done everything possible to support the country politically, economically, and militarily.

– It seems he is ungrateful towards Europe,” said Tajani, according to the Italian newspaper il Giornale.

Ukraine: “Europe’s Peace is Decided on the Battlefield”

The statements from top Italian politicians were quickly met with criticism from Zelenskyy’s government in Kyiv. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi responded by drawing historical parallels to World War II and Ukrainians’ participation with Allied forces in Italy.

“Between 3,000 and 5,000 Ukrainians took part in the Battle of Monte Cassino, one of the fiercest battles of World War II, and they did not choose ‘between defeat and annihilation,’ even if victory sometimes seemed a long way off,” Tykhyi wrote on X, adding:

“They fought side by side with other Allies because it was about the freedom of Italy and all of Europe. No matter how difficult Ukraine’s struggle is today, it is just as principled as it was 80 years ago.”

Furthermore, “Europe’s future peace will be decided on the battlefield in Ukraine.”

Tykhyi then issued a direct appeal to the Italian Deputy Prime Minister.

“And regarding the Deputy Prime Minister: if he is truly concerned about a peace agreement, we advise him not to address Ukraine’s president – the leader of a country defending itself against aggression – but to Putin, who started this war.”

Ukraine Conceals Its Collaboration with the Nazis

However, it is clear that Ukraine’s spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi’s historical parallel is selective. He highlights a few thousand Ukrainians who fought with the Allies at Monte Cassino but conveniently forgets that significantly more Ukrainians during World War II fought side by side with Nazi Germany against the Red Army, especially in Western Ukraine under the leadership of nationalist groups headed by Stepan Bandera – a fact that has been reported by, among others, Deutsche Welle.

A closer look at Bandera and his nationalist groups, OUN-B and UPA, shows that they collaborated with Nazi Germany and actively participated in fighting against the Soviet Union. Beyond that, they were responsible for massacres of Polish civilians, especially in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia in 1943–44, where historians estimate that tens of thousands of civilians were killed – altogether up to 80,000–100,000 Polish civilians. These events are well documented and continue to cause long-standing tensions between Poland and Ukraine.

Nevertheless, Bandera is still celebrated today by many in Ukraine as a national hero. He has statues in cities like Lviv, and his face appears on paintings in restaurants and public spaces throughout the country. This is a detail that spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi conveniently omits while pressuring Italy’s government, all the while giving a selective depiction of history by comparing today’s Ukrainian defense with those Ukrainians who fought with the Allies at Monte Cassino in World War II.