“Ukraine needs Europe’s military support, and Europe must wake up, because Ukraine is fighting for Europe,” declared Kherson Region Governor Oleksander Prokudin. In Rome, a manifestation was organized, on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In twelve squares in Italy the Ukrainian community and numerous associations have made their voices heard. A blue and yellow flag flutters in the air, a family dons crowns of flowers, and billboards condemn “the Russian invader.”
“These years have witnessed unprecedented actions by Russia,” explained Ukraine’s Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to the Italian Republic Yaroslav Melnyk. “It isn’t just about attacks on our cities and infrastructure, but also assaults on our culture, our history, and our identity”.
As Ukraine enters its fourth year of conflict, Western support for Kiev has become a focal point of international political debate. “It’s true that Trump’s stance is concerning, but at the start of the Russian invasion Ukraine stood alone − and even without American backing, we will continue to fight,” the governor Prokudin asserted.
The anniversary arrived in a complex international situation. In recent statements, the U.S. President Donald Trump has questioned the ongoing financial support for Kiev. “It’s true that Trump’s position is worrying, but at the beginning of the Russian invasion, Ukraine was isolated, and even without American aid, our fight will go on,” Governor Prokudin reiterated.
Trump has proposed that Ukraine could repay the aid it received from the United States by capitalizing on its natural resources − including rare earth elements and oil − and the revenues from its ports and strategic infrastructures. This plan could generate up to 500 billion dollars: about four times the current U.S. support. A signature on this proposal is expected this week, with Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, telling CNN, “The war, regardless of who started it, must end. The president wants to be a peacemaker.”
Yet behind this proposal lies a deeper shift: a gradual reduction of American engagement in the region.
Washington refused to co-sponsor a European resolution at the United Nations commemorating the third anniversary of the conflict. In contrast, the United States has advanced its own UN resolution calling for a “swift end” to the war in Ukraine. Notably, this resolution omits any mention of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and does not label Russia as the aggressor − points that were central to the European proposal. Finally, the UN General Assembly approved both the resolution drafted by Ukraine and the European Union—which condemns the Russian invasion and demands the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops—and the US proposal, which was revised through international amendments led by France.
The Us departure has raised significant concerns within the international community. Many argue that this approach risks undermining the unified Western stance and could signal a broader retrenchment from long-term involvement in the region. Such a shift may not only weaken Ukraine’s negotiating position but also alter the strategic balance in Europe, leaving the country more isolated.
While the call for a rapid cessation of hostilities might be seen as a welcome proposition, it also raises critical questions about the future security and territorial rights of Ukraine.
