The Russian president Vladimir Putin “is weaker than before” of the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, because in Russia things “are changing”, as can also be seen from the opposition to the war that emerges “in the rock concerts” and also on the part of the “mothers”, who “no longer see children”. To support it is the executive vice president of the European Commission Frans Timmermans, guest of half an hour more, on Rai 3.
“I see that in Russian society, step by step – he says – there is a change, especially mothers who no longer see their children. They begin to ask, but what is happening? We have already seen the first expressions of protest in the concerts in recent days, we also see “that the sanctions” are having an influence on the economic system. Now the Russian ministers are saying that too. So there is an effect “.
“This change was logical, it is not easy to see what happens, but I feel that there is also a change in Russian power. There are divisions“. It may take” a long time “to have tangible changes,” but he, Putin, is not in a good position and is weaker than before. And tomorrow he will be even weaker than today, “says Timmermans.
E attacks “Putin’s friends”, also “in Italy”, who now, with the war in Ukraine, are “very silent”, hidden “under the table”, while they should only “apologize” to the Italians. Timmermans did not mention names, but reserved a rather transparent allusion to the leader of the League Matteo Salvini.
“I am a bit more optimistic – he replies in a passage of the interview – because we have also seen the victory of the left in Australia. In recent days we have seen that the tendencies, let’s say more radical, have not won in the elections, not even in Germany. We have also seen that Putin’s friends are very quiet now, indeed I have not yet seen the apologies of Putin’s friends, not even in Italy. They are under the table, but they should be clearer by saying we are wrong, sorry. Dear Italian friends, we were wrong, we will never wear a t-shirt with the image of Putin “.
In the face of the war in Ukraine, “not only Italy is in trouble, then we must prepare for a very difficult period for society, for the economy“because” we are in a fundamental change. And this war is causing us trouble “then underlines the executive vice president of the European Commission.
“Energy prices are very high – he continues – and this has an influence on the economy”, but “China, where Covid is being fought, is also in difficulty. It is not only Italy” that is facing difficulties, but the developments generated by the conflict “will have an effect on all member countries, including Italy. So we must prepare to fight together to strengthen our economic structure”, he concludes.