Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, called on Kyiv to broaden the format of peace initiatives, including not only the traditional European leaders — France and Germany — but also other key EU member states, above all Italy and Poland. According to RBC-Ukraine, citing the ANSA news agency, the Italian official made the statement at a press briefing at the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (Fiesp) in Brazil.
Call to Expand the Negotiation Format
In Tajani's words, achieving a "just peace" requires looking to the European Union as a whole, rather than to individual states. "We need a just peace. We will continue to help Ukraine defend itself without sending our troops. Europe can do a lot, but I believe that Zelensky should also look not at individual European states, but at all EU member states," emphasized the head of the Italian Foreign Ministry. He explicitly stated that creating small closed groups for negotiations would not yield the desired result, and he offered the following advice to the President of Ukraine "as a friend of Ukraine": involve not only Paris and Berlin, but also Rome and Warsaw.
Italy's Position on Military Support
Tajani separately outlined the boundary of Italy's position: Rome intends to continue supporting Ukraine's defense, but without dispatching its own armed forces. Thus, Italy declares its readiness to participate in the peace process as a political and diplomatic actor, while maintaining a distance from direct military involvement. This statement is significant against the backdrop of ongoing discussions in Europe over the format and depth of support for Kyiv.
Context: Possible Resumption of Negotiations
The statement came amid reports that the negotiation process on settling the war in Ukraine may resume in the near future. Diplomatic circles note that the parties are considering various formats of interaction, including the involvement of new international partners and a return to trilateral consultations. It is in this context that Tajani's call for a "broad" European format appears as an attempt by Rome to secure a place at the table of future negotiations.
Positions of Moscow and Washington
In Russia, officials stated that a certain level of communication is being maintained and allowed for the possibility of a meeting. Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov noted that trilateral negotiations with Ukraine and the United States are possible, naming a potential venue for their holding and emphasizing that "certain contacts" between the parties are still being maintained. Meanwhile, in Washington, the prospects for resuming dialogue are viewed with restraint: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Ukraine-Russia negotiations could resume in the coming weeks, as the American side is preparing a corresponding plan; however, in his words, a great deal of difficult work still lies ahead.
