On December 10, in a live TV program, Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Matteo Salvini shared frankly about the conflict situation in Ukraine.
Unlike the usual optimism of European leaders, Mr. Salvini said that the outcome of this conflict had been decided and the losses were on Kiev's side.
He also expressed doubts that some Belgian officials still seem to want to prolong the conflict.
Going into the reasons, the Deputy Prime Minister stated that economic benefits and the arms trade are the main driving forces that prevent the war from ending. He cited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's signing of a contract to buy 100 fighter jets from France a few days ago as an example of the bustling procurement of equipment.
He also reiterated historical lessons about the failures of Napoleon and Putin in the past to prove that defeating Russia on the battlefield was extremely difficult, completely contrasting with the confident statements of some Western leaders.
Regarding money, Mr. Salvini gave specific figures to help people easily visualize the economic burden. He estimated that the conflict had "spent" about $115 billion. In particular, with US President Donald Trump no longer intending to spend generous aid as before, Europe will face pressure to pay about 147 billion USD next year.
In this prospect, Mr. Salvini affirmed that he would put the interests of the Italian people first. He has said he would not support cutting the money from the domestic health fund to pay for a conflict that he believes is no longer a chance of winning.
These statements show that there is a division within the Italian government. While Salvini's party wants to be cautious and limit the sending of weapons, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the decision belongs to the Prime Minister.
Observers say the upcoming National Assembly vote on a military aid package for Ukraine until 2026 will be an important test of whether the Italian government can maintain solidarity.
In reality, Italy's enthusiasm is also declining. According to data from the World Economic Institute Kiel, in 2025, Italy has cut aid to Ukraine by 15% compared to the previous period.
