(ANSA) - ROME, JUNE 08 - "The brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine was not an act of unpredictable madness" but "a premeditated step" by Vladimir Putin and "an intentional blow to the EU. The existential values of the European Union are peace, freedom and respect for democratic sovereignty", and that is "why there is no alternative for the United States, Europe and their allies but to guarantee that Ukraine wins this war": said former Prime Minister Mario Draghi, speaking at MIT in Boston. For Draghi, accepting a Russian victory "would deal a fatal blow to the EU."
"Accepting a Russian victory or a confused draw would fatally weaken other neighboring states and send a message to autocrats that the EU is ready to compromise on what it stands for, what it is. It would also signal to our Eastern partners that our commitment to their freedom and independence – a pillar of our foreign policy – is not all that unwavering," the former prime minister said. "Winning this war for Europe means having a stable peace, and today this prospect seems difficult. The invasion of Russia is part of President Putin's delusional long-term strategy: recovering the Soviet Union's past influence and the existence of his government is now intimately linked to its success. It would take an internal political change in Moscow for Russia to abandon its goals, but there is no sign that such a change will occur," Draghi added.
