Italy’s president told the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine can’t be solved by rewarding its aggression and peace can only come when Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are restored.
Sergio Mattarella said Italy, which now heads the G7 meetings, and many international partners have come to Ukraine’s defense to support the principle that solidarity must be given to nations attacked by acts that violate international law and the U.N. Charter.
“No state, no matter how powerful or how equipped it is with a menacing nuclear arsenal can think of violating principles, including the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of another country without facing sanctions,” he said.
Mattarella said the end of two world wars and the collapse of the Soviet Union had brought new hope to Europe, and that “Russia has taken on the great historic responsibility of having brought war back to the heart of the European continent.”
The Italian president stressed that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine isn’t merely a regional conflict since Moscow wants to exercise global influence. Russia is a veto-wielding permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, which is charged with ensuring international peace and security.
Putin is more willing to sacrifice his own people and leech every single resource in the country (which he basically controls, making him the ACTUAL richest man in the world) to support the war effort and there’s no war crime he won’t commit, with the possible exception of using nukes.
Plus, like Nazi Germany leading up to WWII, Russia has probably been fortifying their military much more than richer countries and Ukraine in the last few decades.
Or to put it in animal terms: Ukraine is a plucky terrier, the West is a German shepherd, and Russia is a rabid wolverine on steroids and bath salts.