U.S. Donald Trump’s appeasement policy toward Moscow, according to Italian Ambassador Pier Francesco Zazo, is not working: concessions without returns, Russia is more determined to continue its offensive. Why?
- The Kremlin aims to divide the United States and Europe, testing NATO cohesion with drone incursions over Poland and Romania.
- Europe will likely have to shoulder the bulk of support for Kyiv, with the U.S. providing weapons “only if paid for by the Europeans.”
Why it matters
- Italy vulnerable: Zazo points to historical, cultural and political ties with Moscow, pacifist movements, and anti-American sentiment that make the country fertile ground for Russian narratives.
- Structured disinformation: talk shows and social media amplify simplified, pro-Russian messages, often through figures with little expertise.
- Security risk: the Kremlin uses disinformation and cyberattacks as hybrid warfare tools to influence public opinion and political decision-making in Europe.
Between the lines. The Italian Ambassador recalls Karl Popper’s “paradox of tolerance”: a democracy must defend itself and cannot tolerate those who use freedom of speech to undermine it.
- Hence, measures to curb disinformation should be considered, without confusing them with pluralism.
What we’re watching. Zazo focused on three issues:
- Russian sovereign funds: the EU may be forced to seize them to support Kyiv.
- European cohesion: the bloc’s ability to remain united will be decisive if U.S. support decreases.
- Italy in the balance: on one hand backing Ukraine and avoiding a transatlantic rupture, while on the other remaining exposed to external manipulation.
The event. On Tuesday, September 23, the Germani Institute will host an event on the penetration of Putin’s narrative into middle school textbooks. Ambassador Zazo will be among the speakers.
Go deeper: Ambassador Zazo spoke in greater detail about the broader situation surrounding Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in an interview with our sister website Formiche.net.
