Italy's defense minister: Ukraine won't be able to reclaim all territories seized by Russia

"Today, everyone considers it impossible to reclaim the territories lost by Ukraine in 2014 and after February 2022. Russia will never give them up, and Ukraine will not have the strength to retake them on its own, even with our help," Crosetto said.

According to him, Russian leader Vladimir Putin cannot back down, in part because he changed the constitution, declaring the occupied territories Russian in every sense, thereby putting himself in a position where he cannot negotiate.

The Italian minister also said he does not know whether Ukraine is willing to make territorial concessions.

"It is up to them (the Ukrainians - ed.) to decide what is the greater sacrifice: conceding territory or continuing a bloody war that could intensify. Ukrainian losses amount to 520,000 people, while Russian losses exceed 1 million. The difference is that Ukrainians are aware of their losses, whereas the Russian people have no idea," Crosetto emphasized.

He also stated that Russia is actively spreading propaganda in European countries. According to the Defense Minister, Italy is the main European country Moscow seeks to destabilize.

Putin's territorial demands

On October 19, media reports emerged claiming that US President Donald Trump allegedly demanded that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agree to the territorial demands of Russian President Vladimir Putin; otherwise, Putin would destroy Ukraine.

Additionally, during a press interaction, Trump suggested that Putin has already seized part of Ukraine’s territory, implying that he will certainly take more.

The American outlet The Washington Post reported that during a phone call between Putin and Trump, the Russian leader hinted at a willingness to halt the war and withdraw from Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. In exchange, however, he demands full control over the Donetsk region.