Premier Mario Draghi told the Senate
on Thursday that Italy will do its utmost for a ceasefire in
Ukraine as he reported to parliament on the war after meeting
United States President Joe Biden at the White House last week.
"We have to achieve a ceasefire as soon as possible to stop the
humanitarian crisis from getting worse and get negotiations
going again," Draghi said.
"That is the position of Italy, of the EU and one that I shared
with Biden".
But the premier also stressed that any settlement has to be
acceptable to Kyiv.
"Italy will move with its European partners and its allies for
all possible forms of mediation," Draghi said.
"But Ukraine will decide what peace to accept, no one else.
"Peace without Ukraine would not be acceptable".
Draghi announced that Italy is set to add 1,000 troops to its
NATO contingent.
"NATO has intensified its activities on its Eastern flank and
the Italian contribution amounts to 2,500," he said.
"In the medium term we are ready to reinforce our presence in
Hungary and Bulgaria by 250 and 750 respectively, in line with
the actions of our allies.
"We are evaluating supporting Romania in maritime mine-sweeping
in the Black Sea and Slovakia in anti-aircraft defence".
The premier reiterated that he considered Moscow's decision on
Wednesday to expel 24 Italian diplomats, in retaliation for Rome
ejecting 30 last month for national security reasons, was a
"hostile act" but stressed that it should not lead to the
closure of channels of diplomacy.
He also spoke about the policy of sending arms to Kyiv, which is
causing increasing unrest within the broad coalition supporting
his executive.
League leader Matteo Salvini and 5-Star Movement (M5S) leader
Giuseppe Conte have both said they are against sending more
weapons to Ukraine.
Conte has also called for a fresh parliamentary vote on military
aid for Ukraine.
Draghi, however, said that parliament had already passed a
resolution committing the administration to giving military and
humanitarian support to Ukraine and stressed that "the
government intends to move within the precepts of that
resolution".
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