\u201cEurope must play a key role in the talks aimed at achieving peace in Ukraine, but also in ensuring the security of Kyiv and of the continent itself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani is watching events in Europe from Brazil. As Minister for Foreign Trade, he is leading a mission by Confindustria and ITA to strengthen economic cooperation under the Mercosur treaty and has sent a message to Volodymyr Zelensky just as news is spreading that the plane carrying the Ukrainian president from Moldova to Oslo was nearly struck by a drone as it took off. Zelensky was on his way to Norway for King Harald\u2019s funeral.\u00a0Tajani welcomes the comments made by the Ukrainian Prime Minister, who, in an interview with \u2018La Stampa\u2019, called for Europe to play a greater role in the peace talks, and takes the proposal a step further. \u201cI want to remain optimistic despite the difficulties,\u201d he says. The minister emphasises that the objective must be clear: \u201cWe need to achieve a just peace between Ukraine and the Russian Federation.\u201d And he adds: \u201cWe are well aware that Russia is the aggressor, but we are not at war with Russia.\u201d He then emphasises Italy\u2019s commitment: \u201cWe will do everything we can to facilitate a ceasefire and, subsequently, peace. Europe can do a great deal, because without Europe there can be no peace, given that the EU has imposed a series of sanctions on the Russian Federation. If those sanctions are not lifted, says Tajani, we cannot achieve peace.\u201d<\/p>\n
At Fiesp, the Federation of Industries of the State of S\u00e3o Paulo, the economic agenda thus intersects with the most sensitive international issue, on the very day that Zelensky once again calls for a stronger European presence in the negotiations, citing a specific reason: \u201cEurope must be at the table\u201d \u2013 not just for aid, money or weapons, but because \u201cit is a matter of genuine security\u201d.<\/p>\n
Tajani accepts the Ukrainian President\u2019s invitation and responds with a call for unity. \u201cI believe, however,\u201d the minister points out, \u201cthat Zelensky, too, should look not so much at individual European nations, but at all EU Member States.\u201d In his view, this is not the time to rely on national initiatives or narrow coalitions. \u201cI believe that individual initiatives or those undertaken by small groups are of no value.\u201d<\/p>\n
Europe\u2019s influence, explains Tajani, will depend on its ability to act in unison. \u201cAll the countries of the European Union need to be committed to this, because working together makes the whole of Europe stronger.\u201d A message addressed directly to Zelensky \u201cas a friend of Ukraine, as a supporter of Ukraine\u201d. He adds that this involvement must start with the larger countries: \u201cIt is a good idea to involve all countries, starting with the largest ones\u201d. And he explicitly mentions \u201cnot only France and Germany, but also Italy and Poland\u201d.<\/p>\n
According to Tajani, in fact, it is only through a collective commitment by the twenty-seven Member States that we can achieve a \u201cstrong Europe that plays a leading role in shaping this new era and in building peace.\u201d A role that will need to be political and diplomatic, but which is inevitably intertwined with military security, particularly following yet another escalation in Russian attacks.<\/p>\n
On the Italian front, however, there remains an insurmountable obstacle. \u201cWe have helped, and will continue to help, Ukraine to defend itself.\u201d However, this support does not imply direct involvement by the Italian Armed Forces. \u201cWe will not send our troops into Ukrainian territory because, I repeat, we are not at war with Russia.\u201d The approach remains to combine military support with diplomatic efforts.<\/p>\n
Then, following this appeal, Tajani turns his attention back to Brazil. \u201cWe work for peace, for rights, and for the centrality of the individual. Our presence in Latin America is different from that of others; we are part of the West. Approving the agreement between the EU and Mercosur, he emphasises, is also a way of strengthening Europe\u2019s presence in this region, not only economically but also politically.\u201d And on the subject of the upcoming elections in the South American country, which are due to take place on 4 October, he concludes: \u201cThe political climate in Brazil does not affect our relations. We are friends of Brazil; whoever wins will be our partner, and we will always remain friends of this country. S\u00e3o Paulo is the largest Italian city in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
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