Europe at a Crossroads – Why Zelensky Is Speaking Plainly in Rome

In the halls of the Roma Convention Centre on this July 10, there was a tense seriousness in the air. The conversations were polite, the setting familiar, but the tone - it was different. It was the sound of civilized urgency, carried by a man who is not merely asking, but demanding: Volodymyr Zelensky, president of a battered country, stood before the delegates of the Ukraine Recovery Conference and left no doubt about what he expects from Europe. "Not just the proceeds," he said, "but the frozen Russian assets themselves - they must be used to save lives." And then he added a sentence that reveals the entire dilemma: "Only friends are invited to be part of the reconstruction." What Zelensky articulated that day in Rome was more than a diplomatic appeal - it was a wake-up call, an accusation, and a strategic offer at the same time. While Russian missiles once again rained down on Kyiv during the night, destroying schools and casting smoke over the morning, the Ukrainian president spoke plainly: this is no longer a war over territory alone, but a war over the future of Europe - an attack on the very idea of civilized coexistence.

"This is pure terrorism," Zelensky said in reference to the nighttime attacks. "Putin wants our people to suffer, to flee, for life itself to be wiped out - not just at the front, but everywhere." It was a speech that deliberately avoided diplomatic balance. Instead, it made unmistakably clear that it is up to Europe not just to offer support amid this war, but to take responsibility - also with the money sitting in European vaults. Around 460 billion euros of Russian assets are currently frozen abroad, most of them in the EU. Kyiv wants these funds no longer to be held symbolically or used to secure loans - but actively invested in reconstruction. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, who joined by video, cited a number: more than 850 billion euros will be needed to rebuild over the next 14 years. And he presented a clear plan: two funds, one state-run and fed by seized Russian assets, and a second privately financed - with nearly 400 billion euros through investors.

But this is precisely where the political struggle begins. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made clear in Rome that Russia "must pay for the damage it has caused." 500 billion euros in material damage are on the table. But he left open whether - and when - these assets would actually be used to finance reconstruction. So far, they are only used to secure loans, and direct use would only be "potentially possible in connection with a relevant agreement." In other words, after a ceasefire. It is this cautious semantics that prompts Zelensky to push back. For him, reconstruction is not just a matter of the future, but of the present. "Every attack on us," he said, "should be met with investment - not with waiting." Europe must recognize that restoring Ukrainian infrastructure is also an opportunity - for European companies, technologies, and jobs. Those who invest now are not only rebuilding a country, but also strengthening their own capacities. Zelensky expressed his expectations with unprecedented clarity: "Only friends are invited to be part of the reconstruction - not those who help Russia continue this war." The sentence was both an economic policy signal and a geopolitical test. Europe must decide: does it want to merely help Ukraine, or help shape it?

The conference, attended by over 60 countries, companies, and organizations, was also a venue of competition. France and the United Kingdom simultaneously advanced their plans for a European peacekeeping force. President Macron declared that the force is "ready to deploy" once a ceasefire is signed. But reality leaves little hope for peace anytime soon. Russia launches ballistic missiles at Ukraine night after night. The US is delivering Patriot systems hesitantly, and Germany now wants to acquire such systems as well - from Donald Trump, with whom Merz recently spoke by phone. But how many systems will actually be delivered remains unclear. Industrial production - such as at Lockheed Martin - is running at full capacity, but demand exceeds supply. Despite everything, Zelensky tried to paint a picture of progress: "No other country has switched so quickly from Soviet jets to F-16s and Mirages," he said - a success story meant to show: Ukraine is ready. Now it just needs support. But the most dramatic issue he addressed at the end: the abducted children. "We must explore every possible way to bring our children back," he said. And by that he meant: back from the camps, the institutions, the reeducation programs on Russian soil - back home. Perhaps one day this July 2025 will be seen as a turning point. Not because peace was made that day - we are further from that than ever. But because a new language was spoken in Rome: the language of a country under attack that no longer simply asks, but sets conditions. A country that says to Europe: the choice is yours - with every euro, with every missile, with every decision. And with every day you hesitate, the destruction grows. Zelensky has laid his cards on the table. Now it’s Europe’s move.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Rubio met with Lawrov. It was a fleeting moment of diplomatic opening - and yet one of the most notable statements to come from within the US government since the full-scale invasion began. After meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that there were "new and different ideas" for potential peace talks on Ukraine. "I think it’s a new and a different approach," Rubio told reporters in brief remarks. It was not a concept that guaranteed peace, he said, "but something I will take back to the president in Washington." Rubio gave no further details - the diplomatic terrain he walks appears too fragile. The meeting with Lavrov comes at a time of growing frustration within the White House. President Donald Trump is "disappointed and frustrated" by the lack of flexibility on the Russian side, Rubio said. "We hope that can change - and we’re going to continue to stay engaged where we see opportunities to make a difference." Whether these vague signals will translate into concrete steps remains to be seen. "But Rubio’s words suggest that more is moving behind the scenes than is publicly visible - a silent struggle for narrative, influence, and the possibility of redirecting the course of the war. But whether there is real substance remains highly doubtful. Conclusion of the day: All quiet on the Western front."