Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani and the Head of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis wish to express their deep concern over the Russian Federation’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, which continues to produce massive destruction and immense suffering. The conflict has already caused very serious social and humanitarian consequences, as well as permanent damage to civilian infrastructure.
During the International Summit on Peace in Ukraine held in Bürgenstock on 16 June, all parties involved in the conflict were strongly urged to ensure nuclear safety – put at great risk by the ongoing military operations – as well as food safety, and to proceed without delay with the release of all prisoners of war, as well as deported Ukrainian minors and civilians. Italy, for its part, is preparing to host the Ukraine Recovery Conference in 2025, the fourth in a series of events that began in Ticino – in Lugano – and continued in London and Berlin. Italy is undertaking this crucial commitment for the post-conflict phase and to give the country hope for the future.
Aware of the global repercussions of the conflict in Ukraine, Italy and Switzerland remain committed to implementing every step necessary to build a diplomatic path towards a just, comprehensive and lasting peace.
Believing that achieving peace requires the involvement of and dialogue between all parties, the two Ministers agreed to remain in close contact to cooperate in creating the best possible conditions for a second peace summit involving all parties, including Russia, and all relevant global actors. To this end, Italy and Switzerland invite all the international actors concerned to spare no effort towards establishing a shared negotiating platform, based on respect for international law and for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all States, as enshrined in the United Nations Charter, also taking into account the proposals made so far by several parties to put an end to the conflict.
