Italy cannot be "a participant in the peace process" for Ukraine , because relations with Russia are going through "the deepest crisis since the Second World War, and the government in Rome is undoubtedly responsible for this."

The attack came yesterday from Moscow, on the very day that Vladimir Putin launched the most conciliatory and explicit signals for the opening of negotiations with Donald Trump , saying he was ready to meet him to talk about everything.

In its responses to questions submitted in writing by journalists ahead of a press conference held by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on January 14, the Foreign Ministry ruled out any mediator role that Giorgia Meloni's government could aspire to (assuming it wanted one) based on the close ties it is building with Trump.

"Given the anti-Russian position taken by Italy - says Moscow's diplomacy - we do not consider it as a possible participant in the peace process . Not to mention that of some 'defender of Russia's interests in the EU', which 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 channel of dialogue, on Ukraine and beyond, is opening up with the new American administration.

Some observers believe that contacts between the two staffs are already underway. To the point that Putin said he was open to a summit in person . "I have always had working relations with the current president, but pragmatic and based on mutual trust," Putin said in an interview with the well-known TV journalist Pavel Zarubin. " I agree with him: if they hadn't stolen his victory in 2020, perhaps there wouldn't have been this crisis in Ukraine. We would do better to meet and have a realistic conversation on all issues of mutual interest for the US and Russia, based on the current situation. We are ready."

Meanwhile, Zelensky, in an exclusive interview with Cecilia Sala today in Il Foglio , called upon to comment on the role of Prime Minister Meloni, states that " the privileged channel of dialogue with Trump could be useful to Europe and, I hope, also to Ukraine ".

(Unioneonline/vl)

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