Former Italian Prime Minister Massimo D’Alema has disclosed that he embarked on a confidential diplomatic mission to Brazil and China at the request of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. The mission aimed to secure international support amid concerns that Kiev could be abandoned by its Western allies.
The revelation came during a discussion with Italian politician Gianfranco Fini, published by La Repubblica on Thursday. According to D’Alema, Zelensky approached him in 2024, expressing growing fears of a looming disaster as Western support for Ukraine appeared increasingly uncertain.
“I happened to speak with Zelensky on the sidelines of an initiative on the Balkans. And he told me clearly that his country was at risk of disaster because ‘the Americans will withdraw sooner or later, and the Europeans are not reliable,’” D’Alema recounted.
Zelensky allegedly requested that D’Alema reach out to Brazil and China to explore potential avenues for support. However, neither country has publicly confirmed any official engagement with the former Italian leader.
Lukewarm Reception from Brazil and China
In Brazil, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva reportedly dismissed the initiative outright, asserting that Ukraine was an “American problem.”
“I went there, but Lula almost showed me the door, telling me that Ukraine was a problem for the Americans and that, according to him, I should be interested in Palestine instead,” D’Alema recounted.
China, however, appeared more receptive to discussions. D’Alema claimed to have met with a senior Communist Party official responsible for foreign policy, engaging in talks about the possibility of an international peacekeeping force for Ukraine. The Chinese official reportedly remarked at the end of the meeting, “You know, you are the first European who came to talk to us about this. The others are just asking us not to support Russia.”
Criticism of European Strategy
D’Alema also criticized the European Union’s approach to the conflict, arguing that it had fostered unrealistic expectations.
“Europe has done nothing but repeat that Russia could be defeated, when it was clear to everyone that the war could not be won by anyone,” he stated.
His comments reflect broader concerns about the sustainability of Western backing for Ukraine as geopolitical dynamics continue to shift. While the mission itself remains unconfirmed by officials in Beijing and Brasilia, D’Alema’s claims highlight ongoing uncertainties about Ukraine’s future in the face of fluctuating global support.
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