Di Maio: “No bilateral meeting if Moscow doesn’t give signals”
“This morning we coordinated with the President Dragons about the next steps to take to foster a diplomatic solution. We are fully committed to multilateral channels of dialogue. However, we believe that there can be no new bilateral meetings with the Russian leaders until there are signs of easing of tension, a line adopted in the last few hours also by our European allies and partners “. Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio reporting to the Senate on the crisis in Ukraine.
“We condemn the decision of Moscow to send a contingent of troops with self-styled peace-keeping functions to the territories of the two separatist republics. It is a gesture that risks exacerbating an already very tense situation. I remember that a Russian presence is estimated along the borders with Ukraine between 170 and 190 thousand units “.
“Real risk of a military operation by Moscow”
“At the press conference Putin said he recognized the claims of Donetsk and Lugansk on the territory of all the Donbasswell beyond the Russian-speaking component present in the region and therefore including areas currently under the control of the Ukrainian armed forces, asking for the recognition ofillegal annexation of Crimea. This twofold development threatens to pave the way for a large-scale military operation by Russia in Ukraine“.
“We reiterated the Italy’s support for the integrity and full territorial sovereignty of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders and an appeal is made to the parties to return to the negotiating table in the appropriate formats. Unilateral initiatives drive away the achievement of stability and security conditions in the region “.
“In this situation, who could degenerate with very serious consequences for the security of our continent, I believe it is necessary to continue making every possible effort to preserve the existing opportunities for a peaceful settlement of the crisis. We have to avoid a war in the heart of Europe. As President Draghi said, ‘the path of dialogue remains essential’ “.
“The Italian position vis-à-vis Russia is also aimed at preserving a fair balance between the needs of deterrence and firmness and the availability for a constructive and genuine dialogue, aimed at seriously negotiating issues of common interest, in order to defuse tensions”.
“Despite the gravity of the moment and the latest developments we are witnessing in these hours, we want to continue to focus on every diplomatic initiative that can avert a war. A solution that we still believe possible, even if with margins that are shrinking from day to day“.
Di Maio: “From Italy 110 million to Ukraine”
“As a concrete follow-up to my visit to Kiev, we are evaluating what is possible allocation of a financial contribution worth approximately 110 million euros aimed at supporting the Ukrainian population and economy in sectors to be agreed with the Kiev authorities. We also intend to make a contribution to the International Red Cross Committee for interventions in the humanitarian sector “.
“In this situation, which can change rapidly, it is important to maintain the close coordination already in place with the partners of the European Union and with the NATO Allies. Lastly, the Extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council of the Union and the meeting between the foreign ministers of the G7 countries, which I attended yesterday in Paris “.
“Further restrictive measures they could be taken in case of other actions on the Russian side. “” To be effective, sanctions must act as deterrent against further military action and therefore be sustainable, proportionate and gradual, and directly linked to concrete and objective developments on the ground “.
The gas question and economic implications
“We know that the our entrepreneursfrom 2014 to today, they have suffered heavy losses as a consequence of the sanctions and we will work to contain as much as possible the impact on our strategic and economic interests. Aware of paying an important price for the protection of common non-negotiable values and principles, we are also aware of the deterrent value of restrictive measures aimed at preventing Russia from further stoking the tension on the ground. This would entail an even higher price for all the players involved “.
“The Nord Stream pipeline 2 it would offer Germany an alternative route to the Ukrainian route, but always linked to Russian supplies. As you know, yesterday the Chancellor Scholz, in response to the worsening of the crisis, it suspended the authorization procedures for the new gas pipeline. The Russian gas arriving in Italy passes entirely through the Ukrainian gas pipelines. All the more reason to avoid conflict. Defusing the threat on supplies via Ukraine – which so far has been regular for Italy – would also mean easing market tensions. Tensions which, as we all know, have repercussions on gas prices “.
Ukraine, Di Maio mentions Italians on an OSCE mission and the classroom applauds
“I would also like here to recall our role in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. I am proud of the 15 Italians who continue to serve in the OSCE Special Monitoring Missionalso located in areas of ongoing conflict and exchanges of fire between the parties “, said Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, referring to the Senate on the Ukrainian crisis.
Di Maio quotes Mattarella: “War again unacceptable”
“As the President Mattarella on the occasion of the recent inauguration speech, ‘for many decades the European countries have enjoyed the peace dividend, made concrete by European integration and increased by the end of the Cold War. We cannot accept that now the wind of confrontation will rise again, in a continent that has known the tragedies of the First and Second World Wars’ “.
“We have asked the compatriots to leave Ukraine immediately with the commercial means available. In any case we have decided, in coordination with our European partners, to leave our fully operational Embassy in Kiev”.
Di Maio: “Europe will accelerate the launch of an Energy Union”
“The current impact of this crisis on prices confirms the need for European coordination not only in the gas storage phase, an initiative which we have already followed up in recent months, but above all in the phase of forming supply contracts. Such a crisis should bring Europe, as well as increase the efforts on renewable energies, also to accelerate the launch of an Energy Union “. Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said this, referring to the Senate on the Ukrainian crisis.” Italy – he added – will be the protagonist in carrying out this project. The energy security of our continent passes through the freedom and sovereignty of all European actors “.
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