(Adnkronos) – Europe will need to play a leading role “in a new season of peace” in Ukraine, which Russia has “effectively failed” to conquer, Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani told public broadcaster RaiTre on Wednesday.
‘The G7 document approved by the leaders refers to Europe’s “leading” role in achieving peace,” Tajani told the ReStart programme.
Tajani referenced a statement by G7 leaders on Tuesday – the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale military invasion – underlining their unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its territory and right to exist.
“So I believe that Europe must and can play a leading role in the final phase of the negotiations, in whichever way the European Union decides,” he added.
Tajani underlined the need for EU countries to avoid “rash” individual moves and to act in unison.
Moscow has “failed” and “will have to negotiate an agreement,” Tajani argued.
“The Russians have effectively failed. In four years, they have conquered 18-19% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea,” Tajani said, referring to the peninsula on the northern coast of the Black Sea, which Russia occupied in 2014.
“So it will take decades to conquer the whole of Ukraine,” Tajani said.
“In the end, even the Russians will be forced to sit down at the table and reach an agreement”.
Tajani voiced optimism that the United States would “stop this war” just as it achieved a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, echoing the G7 leaders’ statement, which appeared to be backed by Washington.
“We express our continued support for President (Donald) Trump’s efforts to achieve these objectives by initiating a peace process and bringing the parties to direct discussions,” read the statement.
“Europe has a leading role to play in this process, joined by other partners,” the statement continued.
