Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani has described Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos as “ungenerous”.
Tajani made the statement on the sidelines of an event in Italy, responding to Zelensky’s speech in which the President expressed frustration over the level of European support amid ongoing negotiations to end the war with Russia.
“It seems to me that he is not generous towards Europe,” the Minister of Foreign Affairs said on the sidelines of the Business Forum meeting between Italy and Germany.
“It seems to me that Europe has guaranteed Ukraine’s independence, doing everything to support this country from a political, financial and military point of view,” he added.
The criticism comes at a time of heightened diplomatic activity surrounding Ukraine, with US President Donald Trump holding discussions with both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin on potential pathways to peace.
Trump described his recent meeting with Zelensky in Davos as positive but noted the challenges in reaching an agreement, stating that both sides had expressed a desire to end the conflict.
Zelensky said in a fiery speech that many western allies lacked political will to fully back Ukraine and hurt Russia.
He also lamented what he called the lack of European unity.
“There are endless internal arguments and things left unsaid that stop Europe from uniting and speaking honestly enough to find real solutions,” he said.
“Instead of becoming a truly global power, Europe remains a beautiful but fragmented kaleidoscope of small and middle powers.”
Regarding Europe’s modest military deployment in Greenland, Zelensky said: “Sending 14 or 40 soldiers to Greenland, what is that meant to achieve? What message does that send to Putin? To China? And perhaps, most importantly, what message does it send to Denmark?”
Tajani’s remarks reflect growing tensions within European circles as pressure mounts for a negotiated settlement, particularly following shifts in US policy under the Trump administration.
Italy, under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has maintained support for Ukraine while increasingly stressing the need for realistic compromises.
