ROME, Jan 10 (Reuters) - The time has come for diplomacy to pave the way for peace between Russia and Ukraine, Italy's defence minister said on Wednesday, adding that firm Western support for Kyiv was crucial to ensure serious negotiations.
Italy's Defence Minister Guido Crosetto takes part in a NATO Defence Ministers' meeting at the Alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium October 12, 2023. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo
Guido Crosetto told parliament the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive had not produced the desired result and the military situation had to be viewed with realism.
“From this perspective … it would seem that the time has come for incisive diplomacy, alongside military support, because there are a number of important signals coming from both sides,” Crosetto said.
Russia is progressively showing willingness to negotiate and safeguard its economy, while Ukraine’s stance appears less uncompromising than before, he said.
“All of this must be taken into consideration on the path towards negotiations to stop the conflict and the subsequent process of normalisation of relations, not only of Russia with Ukraine, but also with Western countries,” he said.
Russia has said it is ready for peace talks if Ukraine takes account of “new realities”, suggesting an acknowledgement that Russia controls about 17.5% of Ukrainian territory.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has rejected any notion that Moscow is interested in talks, telling the Economist magazine this month that Russia would only agree to a pause in fighting if it needed a break to replenish its army.
“In Ukraine, the domestic front appears to be no longer as united as in the past in supporting President Zelenskiy’s policy, highlighting some divergences in the political discourse,” Crosetto said.
Zelenskiy has embarked on a flurry of international trips in recent weeks, trying to shore up Western support amid warnings that the Ukrainian military is running low on weaponry.
Italy last month passed a decree allowing it to carry on sending war supplies to Ukraine until the end of 2024. The government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also agreed to send Kyiv more materials to boost its defences.
Crosetto, a strong supporter of Kyiv and a senior member of Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party, reiterated that any peace talks had to clearly recognise Russia’s aggression against Ukraine in February 2022.
“The full territorial integrity and recognised borders of Ukraine remain the goal of the entire international community,” he said.
Reporting by Angelo Amante; Editing by Crispian Balmer and Christina Fincher
The details of the peace deal presented today by US special envoy Steve Witkoff are consistent with the report in the Financial Times discussed in my previous article and with Larry Sparano in the posted interview. Putin will halt the Russian advance prior to driving Ukrainian soldiers out of all of the territory that has been reincorporated into Russia. It appears to be the case that the borders between Russia and Ukraine will be the current front line, so Putin is withdrawing Russia’s claim to the Russian territories still under Ukrainian occupation.
Russia and the US seem near a Ukraine peace deal. Kyiv’s role may be moot.
President Donald Trump’s hopes of securing a quick Ukraine peace deal hang in the balance after Washington’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, held his fourth Kremlin meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday.
