Italy's defense minister says it's time for diplomacy between Russia and Ukraine
It is time for diplomacy to pave the way for peace between Russia and Ukraine, Italy's defense minister said on Wednesday. The Ukrainian counteroffensive launched last year did not bring the expected results, Guido Crosetto told the Italian Parliament, adding that the military situation must be viewed realistically. “From this perspective, it appears that in addition to military support, the time is also ripe for sharp diplomacy, as both sides are sending a number of important signals. » According to Guido Crosetto, Russia is increasingly showing its willingness to negotiate and protect its economy, while Ukraine's stance appears less intransigent than before. “All this must be taken into account in the framework of negotiations to end the conflict and in the subsequent process of normalizing relations not only between Russia and Ukraine, but also with Western countries,” he said.
Russia has said it is ready to start peace talks if Ukraine takes into account “new realities,” that is, if it recognizes that Russia controls about 17.5% of Ukrainian territory. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected any notion that Moscow is interested in talks, telling the Economist this month that Russia would only agree to a pause in fighting if it needed one to rebuild its army.
Guido Crosetto, a staunch Kiev supporter and member of Giorgia Meloni's Fratelli d'Italia party, reiterated that any peace negotiations must clearly recognize Russia's aggression against Ukraine in February 2022. “The full territorial integrity and recognized borders of Ukraine remain the goal of the entire international community,” he said. Italy has passed a decree allowing it to continue sending war materials to Ukraine until the end of 2024. Council President Giorgia Meloni's government also agreed to send more equipment to Kiev to bolster its defenses.