Italy cannot be “a participant in the peace process” for Ukraine, because relations with Russia cross “the deepest crisis from the Second World War, and of this is undoubtedly responsible for the government of Rome”. The attack came from Moscow on the day when Vladimir Putin has launched the most relaxing and explicit signals for the opening of negotiations with Donald Trumpsaying he is ready to meet him to talk about everything.
In his answers sent to the applications submitted in writing by journalists before a press conference held by the Minister Serghei Lavrov On January 14, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs excludes any role of mediator to whom the government of Giorgia Meloni He can aspire (assuming that he wants him) based on the close relationships he goes wrapping with Trump. “Given the anti -Russian position taken from Italy – says Moscow diplomacy – we do not consider it as a possible participant in the peace process. In order not to mention that of some ‘defender of the interests of Russia in the Uè, what sounds Frankly ridiculous given the current circumstances ».
The message is clear: Moscow does not need mediators, especially in the European Union, now that a direct dialogue channel on Ukraine and beyond, is opening with the new American administration. Some observers believe that contacts between the two staff are already in progress. To the point that Putin said he was open to a top summit. “We should meet and have a calm conversation on all the topics of bilateral interest,” the president suggested in an interview with the well -known television journalist Pavel Zarubin. The head of the Kremlin went even further, speaking of relationships with the tycoon that have always been based on pragmatism and trust, and praising “intelligence”.
Not only that: Putin agreed with Trump on the fact that if he had been to the White House in 2022, perhaps the conflict in Ukraine would not have broken out. But at that moment he was not Trump at the helm of the US because, said the Russian president, in the 2020 elections he had been “stolen his victory”. Putin’s pennies, among other things, arrived a few hours after in an interview with Fox Trump had expressed a pungent criticism of Volodymyr Zelensky. The Ukrainian president “is not an angel,” said the tenant of the White House, saying that “he should not let this war happen” and insisted the “billions of dollars” so far spent by the USA to support the Ukraine. If this is added that Putin has returned to hypothesize an exclusion from Zelensky’s negotiations – judged “illegitimate” after the official expiry of his mandate last May – there is enough to make more than an alarm bell ring Kiev, who for now takes it only with Putin. Andriy Yermak. «This – added Yermak – will not happen. Putin has to go back to reality or will be brought back. This is not the case that things go in the modern world ». After all, Trump has not shown himself to be very tender with Russia, while also hoping to be able to meet Putin.
In the interview with Fox, the American president returned to threaten penalties against Moscow to induce her to end the conflict. And then he relaunched his request to the OPEC to collaborate to drop the price of oil with an increase in production. A drop in the prices of crude oil, according to Trump, could “stop the tragedy in Ukraine” because it would reduce the proceeds for Russia, which is among the main exporters. “No, the conflict does not depend on oil prices,” replied the ceremony spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov. “This conflict takes place due to the Threat to national security of the Russian Federation“Said Putin’s spokesman, and” due to the reluctance and complete refusal by Americans and European to listen to Russian concerns “. And the deputy foreign minister Alexander Grushko stressed that a “key element” for negotiated peace is Kiev’s renunciation to enter NATO.
Zelensky: “Putin tries to manipulate Trump”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky believes that Vladimir Putin is trying to “manipulate” Donald Trump with his statements about the availability in interviews with the United States. “He wants to manipulate the desire of the President of the United States of America to reach peace,” said Zelensky during his daily evening speech on social media. “I am confident that no Russian manipulation will be successful,” he added.