Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani is not surprised at the huge difficulties that still hinder the path to peace between Russia and Ukraine: «I have always said that the war would not end at least until the end of the year. There is no point in deluding ourselves: Russia has largely converted its industrial power into the production of weapons. A soldier is paid twice as much as a worker and there are a million of them on the field. It is complicated, but we must backtrack from this system of war. Putin has built a war machine. Now he must accept that the path is that of negotiations and peace». He defends Italy’s actions in the bloody conflict between Israel and Hamas: “It is easy to wear a keffiyeh and challenge the government. We try to work every day, with all our strength, for the Palestinian population. Trying to keep the channels open with Israel, because it is the only way to save lives.” He also tries to ease tensions after Trump’s new announcement on tariffs against Europe: “We need to negotiate, negotiate and negotiate. A trade war is in no way profitable for anyone. We must do so as Europe. European Commissioner Sefcovic, with whom I spoke a few hours ago, is very good at doing so.” After having been in Japan and India, and after having organized business forums also in Italy with countries having important markets, Minister Tajani is in Mexico City where he is pursuing his diplomatic action focused on opening privileged trade channels. From Mexico the Minister reaffirms the mainstays of Italy’ international policy.
In the conflict between Russia and Ukraine yesterday was the day of the exchange of prisoners, but clashes continue. What is the purpose of the Italian, EU and even US action?
«The exchange of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine is in any case a positive signal. But let us not deceive ourselves, the war will not end in the short term. We must explore all options, work on solutions for a ceasefire and then a just and lasting peace, even if while we do so bombs are still falling, because we must be realistic. Having said so, however, the pressure on Putin must be doubled and Russia must understand that the path of war must be abandoned».
How?
«We have launched the eleventh aid package to Ukraine; as Europe we have imposed new sanctions on Russia, but we must take two factors into account. The first is that Russia will have difficulty stopping the war because, at the moment, their economy relies heavily on the war industry. The second is that the open channel with the Vatican must not be wasted. A place for peace talks like that could be the right place at the end of the negotiating process, not at the beginning».
Italy is not part of the Willing that would also be ready to ensure a military presence. A mistake?
«We are not among those who believe that sending our soldiers to the field could be part of the solution at this time. If there were a decision by the UN Security Council – therefore also with Russia’s vote – we could consider the possibility of being part of a UN contingent with our military, to create a buffer zone between the two countries».
What is still our economic presence in Russia?
«It has shrunk, but we are also working to protect the 270 Italian companies that continue to work in Russia. They are important parts of our economy. I am also saying so with reference to the golden power on Unicredit: I am still critical about the issue that forces them to leave Russia within a few months, because Unicredit is the only bank that can provide services to the many Italian companies in that country. Companies that strictly respect the international sanctions. Let us be careful, the January 2026 deadline for stopping activities in Russia may be too close”.
President Trump is back on the attack with tariffs. Salvini speaks of a Europe that is inefficient to say the least.
«As anyone who talks about it should know, we do not negotiate on tariffs as Italy but as Europe. We have full confidence in Commissioner Sefcovic and the European Commission, with whom we have ongoing relations. In Brussels, with President Mattarella, we met with von der Leyen, Metsola and Costa. Prime Minister Meloni has facilitated the relationship with President Trump: let the negotiations continue. I am not convinced by the anti-European rhetoric: we are stronger if we are united, not divided. Europe serves to solve problems, it does not create them”.
In the meantime, however, you are looking for other markets…
“It is a duty for those who lead a Ministry like mine which, after the reform of the Directorate General for Foreign Policy, will add one for export growth. We are a country that generates 40% of GDP with exports; Mexico is the first country for exports in all of Latin America».
Italy is increasingly dismayed by the carnage of civilians in Gaza. Why aren’t you tougher?
«We want to be effective, we don’t just want to have a tough attitude for propaganda reasons. Does anyone really think that by withdrawing the Ambassador we would convince Netanyahu to stop? We need Ambassadors to talk to foreign governments. We have said it from the beginning and ever louder: enough with uncontrolled military reactions, enough with civilian victims. We do so also because we are close to Israel, and we do not want legitimate criticism of a government to lead to shameful resurgence of anti-Semitism. Being against Netanyahu cannot become a way to legitimize attacks on the entire Jewish people. In Italy, even a woman of great past and present moral value, like Liliana Segre, was offended. These are extremely dangerous drifts».
But what is the government doing for Palestine?
«Much. With our Food for Gaza operation, with the medical mission of the Italian Navy ship Vulcano, which has treated dozens of Palestinian children in Egypt. How could we help people, in the flesh, if we did not have open relations and channels? We try to save lives, knowing all too well that it will not be possible to have a Palestinian State as long as Hamas thinks it has a presence in those lands and there is no positive negotiation between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority. This is the reason why our relations remain very close with the PNA, which criticizes Hamas because it denounces the harm they are doing to their own Palestinian citizens».
