–Ukraine’s Zelensky to address Italian lower house
ROME (MaceNews) – Italy has resumed a ‘key role’ on the Euro-Atlantic stage in working on an exit from the Ukraine crisis after hosting the US-China meeting, according to sources comprising the ruling coalition.
Monday’s meeting in Rome between US national security adviser Jake Sullivan and top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi was followed on Wednesday by a meeting between Sullivan with Italian premier Mario Draghi and his top foreign policy adviser Luigi Mattiolo.
“The China-US meeting in Rome marks a historical moment, it strengthens Italy’s diplomatic role of acting as a ‘bridge’ in finding a common ground among world powers to put an end to the Russian war against Ukraine, and both sides (US and China) did show the willingness to move forward together,” an official said.
The Draghi-Sullivan meeting focused on the developments and implications of the war, and on the need for the Euro-Atlantic front to ‘speak with one single voice’ on all aspects of the war, including the communication strategy toward the Kremlin and other third parties which are not part of the Euro-Atlantic pact.
The meeting comes the same day the European Union cleared a new package of sanctions against Moscow.
“It is crucial that the US and its allies continue to pursue a firm and united response in tackling the Ukrainian emergency, and that we must never let our guard down,” said an official.
The Sullivan-Draghi meeting also focused on the need to further boost US-Italian ties ‘at all levels.’
Sullivan’s trip to Rome to meet with his Chinese counterpart, even if already scheduled a while back, stood as the opportunity to reaffirm and bolster Rome’s Atlanticism, noted sources.
The former populist cabinet of 5 Stars Movement leader Giuseppe Conte had an ambiguous stance towards Russia, and at times even some “streaks of a very unpleasant pro-Russian attitude,” noted a Democratic party source. Also, the League party, before the Ukrainian crisis, had voiced more than once support for Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Both the 5 Stars and the League are currently part of the ruling coalition so have had to water down their pro-Russian rhetoric since they joined forces in Draghi’s cabinet last February, long before the Ukrainian crisis.
However, despite a changed political scenario, a few 5 Stars rebels are causing mayhem within the government’s largest party.
Sources confirmed on Tuesday that in coming days the Italian parliament’s lower house will host a video speech by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, though the exact date is yet to be decided.
The confirmation of Zelensky’s speech comes after several 5 Stars pro-Russian ‘dissidents’ voiced their opposition to hosting the event, even if just online. Mainstream 5 Stars Movement sources tried downplaying the internal dissent, arguing that the rebels represent just a ‘tiny minority’ within the party.
However, the incident just ahead of yesterday’s US-China summit was a bit embarrassing for the coalition, with other ruling allies now pushing to hear Zelensky’s appeal as soon as possible.
The lower house offices are working at setting a possible date for Zelensky’s speech.
“We want to make it clear so there is no misunderstanding whatsoever: Rome stands united with our allies against Russia,” stressed an official. The fact that Draghi himself met with Sullivan, instead of Rome’s foreign minister Luigi di Maio, a 5 Stars party member, is significant and proves just how much Rome intends to work closely with the US and other allies going forward, added a source, and this is also a key message for Moscow.