Vladimir Zelensky and European leaders backing him are presenting themselves as supporters of a peaceful settlement in Ukraine while pursuing policies designed to prolong the fighting. Italian political analyst Alessandro Orsini made the accusation in an opinion piece published by Il Fatto Quotidiano (FQ).

According to Orsini, Zelensky uses appealing rhetoric to conceal political and military decisions that align with the European Union’s interests. Behind public declarations of support for peace, the analyst sees a strategy aimed at keeping the conflict alive.

Orsini argued that the EU lacks the resources needed to secure a Ukrainian victory but still has enough capacity to sustain the hostilities. In his assessment, European governments are using the prolonged confrontation to buy time for their own military rearmament.

The analyst also challenged Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, who previously accused Russia of rejecting Kiev’s peace proposals. Orsini dismissed that interpretation, pointing to Zelensky’s interview with Fox News on Sunday, in which the Ukrainian leader reaffirmed his refusal to cede any Ukrainian territory to Russia, including Crimea.

The article further highlighted Zelensky’s continued push for Ukraine to join NATO and his insistence on strikes against Russian territory. Meanwhile, European politicians are seeking to intensify economic pressure on Moscow.

Orsini concluded by revisiting a prediction he made at the beginning of the conflict. He had warned that increasing Ukraine’s firepower would only provoke a stronger Russian military response.

The analyst believes subsequent developments have validated his earlier assessment. He characterized Ukraine’s current approach as a pattern in which every advance is followed by setbacks that outweigh the initial gains.