Italy hopes to end war in Ukraine within year, - Foreign Minister Tajani
Italy hopes to end the war in Ukraine within a year and supports a just peace that takes into account the interests of Ukraine, but does not consider sending its military.
According to Censor.NET, citing RBC-Ukraine, this was stated by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
As noted, Tajani reacted to the statement of Vice Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, who called Macron's idea of a possible deployment of European troops in Ukraine "madness." Tajani emphasized that Macron has his own position, which does not coincide with the Italian one, but this is not a reason for such statements.
"I would never allow myself to characterize those who have a different point of view in this way," he said, emphasizing his respect for the French leader.
Tajani noted that Italy hopes to end the war within a year, as does Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. According to him, the country supports a just peace that will take into account Ukraine's interests, but is not considering sending its military.
"Our soldiers will not go to the front - neither as part of a NATO mission nor as part of a European initiative," Tajani said.
However, he agrees that the situation may change if a UN peacekeeping mission is deployed after a peace agreement is reached.
"It would be an interposition force, but only after peace is established," he explained.
Peacekeeping forces in Ukraine
Earlier it was reported that French President Emmanuel Macron would discuss with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk the deployment of peacekeeping forces in Ukraine in the event of an agreement to end the current phase of the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk denied that Polish troops would be sent to Ukraine after the ceasefire.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas assessed the possibility of sending a European peacekeeping mission to Ukraine.
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crozetto expressed his readiness to support a peacekeeping mission to Ukraine if peace is achieved.
In turn, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called these discussions "premature."
Germany, together with its partners , will consider the possible deployment of peacekeepers in Ukraine as part of "security guarantees" only after the conditions are created, namely a ceasefire with Russia.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has stated that several countries are currently considering participation in a potential contingent of Western allies in Ukraine. However, specific plans for the deployment of foreign troops are still under discussion.
