A peaceful solution to the Ukrainian crisis is still being sought also through the diplomatic card. Italy shows its commitment with a mission planned by Rome entrusted to Minister Luigi Di Maio who is expected today in Kiev and then will go to Moscow.
The position is clear: on the one hand, support for Ukraine but there remains the need to keep an open channel with Russia, in the wake of what has already been done by France and Germany and in a different way from the uncompromising attitude of the Americans.
In Kiev Di Maio will reiterate that Italy supports the "sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine", with respect to a possible Russian aggression. To his colleague Serghei Lavrov, who is waiting for him in Moscow probably on Thursday, the minister will bring "clear, unified, firm messages, in close coordination with our European partners and allies, NATO and the OSCE, that discourage any aggression or escalation".
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini said he was willing to strengthen the Italian contingent in Eastern Europe within NATO. But it remains important for Rome to keep the door open to confrontation with Moscow, "to foster a diplomatic and sustainable solution", explained Di Maio on the eve of his mission. The US, on the other hand, is ready for unprecedented sanctions against Putin.
Energy is a fundamental theme in this crisis for Europe and Italy is one of the most exposed countries: over 40% of gas imports arrived from Moscow in 2020, not surprisingly the question of supplies was among the topics at the center of the telephone conversation that took place between Mario Draghi and Vladimir Putin last February 1st.
(Unioneonline / ss)
