"The sanctions that we have imposed on Moscow have had a disruptive effect on the Russian war machine , on its economy" and, in order to avoid ever greater negative effects on the countries aligned against Russia, it is necessary to maintain "social cohesion".

Mario Draghi , a few days before the Italian political elections on 25 September, flies to New York and speaks at the UN General Assembly (for the second and last time) to reaffirm his support for the Ukrainian government and the system of sanctions against Russia . "The impact of the measures - added the Prime Minister - is destined to grow over time, also because some of them will only come into force in the coming months. With a weaker economy, it will be more difficult for Russia to react to defeats. that pile up on the battlefield. "

The invasion of Moscow, according to Draghi, undermines the "values" and "ideals" of the international community which must remain united and firm in responding to Moscow's arrogance , even in the case of the referendum on the Donbass which "are a further violation of international law ”and prove that“ so far Russia has not shown that it wants to end the conflict ”. This is why Europe, Draghi repeats addressing himself to Brussels, where it will probably still be he, waiting for the new government, to negotiate at the Council on 20 and 21 October, "must support the member states while they support Kiev".

The prime minister's appeal to the international community is "not to divide between North and South", to remain united in the face of the "tsar's" provocations. Italy, is the message he sends from the stage of the Glass Palace to the Chancelleries awaiting the outcome of Sunday's vote, "in the next few years it will continue to be the protagonist of European life, close to NATO allies".

On the Ukrainian crisis , Draghi had the opportunity to confront the Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in the morning at the UN Headquarters. Staying with Kiev, the premier stressed in his speech, was the only possible choice and we must not stop looking for the conditions of peace even now that the Ukrainian army has gained an "important strategic advantage" on the ground. And of agreements, such as that on wheat, that lead to a "demilitarization" of the Zaporizhzhia area, to avert a "nuclear catastrophe". The advance of Kiev , the premier claims, was possible "also thanks to our military assistance" . On the other hand, an invasion "planned for months and on several fronts" cannot be stopped "only in words".

The crises triggered by the war, "food, energy, economic", require us to "rediscover the value of multilateralism", insisted Draghi, citing the 1988 speech by Mikhail Gorbachev on the need for cooperation to tackle global problems. Citizens must be protected, is the appeal that Draghi is relaunching by the UN, also asking the EU to "do more" and to impose a ceiling on the price of gas "as Italy has long supported", also to "further reduce the loans we send to Russia ”.

(Unioneonline / D)

© Riproduzione riservata