Italy's Defense Minister Says Ukraine Cannot Reclaim All Russian-Occupied Territories

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto has publicly stated that Ukraine will not be able to reclaim all territories seized by Russia since 2014, even with Western support, as Moscow is unlikely to voluntarily cede these areas. Crosetto highlighted that Russian President Vladimir Putin's constitutional amendment, which formally integrates the occupied Ukrainian regions into Russia, politically bars him from negotiating their return. He also emphasized the heavy human toll of the conflict, with Ukrainian casualties estimated at 520,000 and Russian losses exceeding 1 million, noting that Ukrainians are aware of their losses while Russians remain largely uninformed. While Ukraine and its allies remain unwilling to negotiate territorial concessions, Crosetto observed that ultimately, it is up to Ukraine to decide whether to continue the war or concede territory. He further warned of Russia's ongoing hybrid and cognitive warfare aimed at destabilizing European countries like Italy through propaganda and disinformation campaigns. Recent reports also suggest that former U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated the possibility of territorial concessions as part of a negotiation to end the conflict, though Ukraine has not committed to such terms.