Italy’s deputy prime minister called for diplomacy to resolve the Ukrainian crisis

Today, “without exception,” all countries should work to end the conflict in Ukraine through diplomacy.

This was written on X by Italian Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the League party Matteo Salvini.

According to him, the four years of fighting between Russia and Ukraine are “already too much,” and the conflict must be brought to an end.

“Today, more than ever, diplomatic efforts from everyone without exception are needed to follow the path outlined by the Holy Father and the United States and finally achieve peace,” Salvini wrote.

In January, Salvini also said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should sign a peace agreement as soon as possible, otherwise he would have to choose between “defeat and rout.” Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi responded at the time that Ukraine is allegedly where Europe’s fate is being decided.

On February 23, the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov (included on Russia’s list of terrorists and extremists), said the next round of trilateral talks on Ukraine could take place on February 26–27 in Geneva. According to him, the negotiation process is approaching the moment when a decision will have to be made on whether to stop or continue the fighting.

The outlet RBC-Ukraine, citing sources, also reported that the next round of talks in Geneva could be the last, since it will either “open the road” to a leaders-level meeting or the negotiations will end. At the same time, other sources told the outlet that “nothing has been decided yet.”