By Silvia Marchetti
ROME (MaceNews) – Italy’s government stands united in supporting Ukraine against Moscow and all European Union member states must show unity on this front as ‘unclear messages’ are not acceptable, Italian premier Mario Draghi told the Senate on Tuesday.
Speaking ahead of the key June 23-24 European Council meeting on the Ukraine crisis, Draghi stressed Italy’s pro-NATO stance as tensions over Italy’s role in the war within Italian governing coalition opened cracks in the majority.
The 5 Stars Movement, part of the ruling coalition, ultimately failed in its effort to force a showdown over the government’s support for Ukraine in the resolution, as ruling coalition parties agreed to vague language omitting specific reference to providing arms but backing collective action. The resolution effectively allows the government to proceed with arms and other support.
The resolution on Ukraine is expected to pass the Senate later Tuesday, and again on Wednesday in the Lower House.
While Draghi was speaking, ruling parties were still debating on the exact wording of a common resolution, so the prime minister dropped all reference to further funding and sending more military equipment, as requested by Kiev.
It is likely, according to sources, that all reference to further military aid to Kiev be dropped to avoid escalating political tensions at a critical moment.
“The upcoming EU Council will be focusing on various issues, particularly Ukraine’s application to the EU, and on the fact that the EU is determined to support Kiev through ‘agreed’ process talks with Russia, which is the only way to have a long-lasting, rather than imposed, peace,” said Draghi.
“The EU, alongside Italy, is committed to rebuilding post-war Ukraine, together with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund”, added Draghi, arguing that it is about time that also the UN steps in with greater involvement.
Talking about the different stances among EU member states over the Ukraine support strategy, Draghi urged peer countries to overcome contrasts, drop ambiguities and join efforts as per NATO alliance rules.
“Ukraine must become a new EU member, and there should be no unclear message on this”, added Draghi, who also announced that the EU Council will discuss Macedonia’s EU application and Croatia’s adoption of the euro in 2023.
“In consideration of the EU’s future enlargement, the European union needs a new, more convergent foreign and economic policy, because each single country cannot move on its own any more”, said Draghi.
Draghi warned that the Ukraine war fallout could worsen the global food crisis in coming months, and that the only way to stop soaring inflation tied to energy costs spike was to adopt a European-wide gas price cap, which Rome has been strongly advocating.
The 5 Stars party, led by former premier Giuseppe Conte, has been trying to undermine Draghi’s active pro-Ukraine role by asking him to stop sending weapons to Kiev.
In the past, the 5 Stars has been quite pro-Russian, and has taken on an ambiguous position since the outbreak of the conflict with just foreign minister Luigi di Maio, a key party figure, siding with Draghi’s decisions.