Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has declared that the EU must lift its sanctions on Russia as a necessary condition for concluding a peace agreement on Ukraine. In a press briefing held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tajani expressed support for the US-drafted peace plan, suggesting that while it requires revisions, it serves as a crucial starting point. He underscored the necessity of European involvement in the peace process, stating that a peace agreement cannot be achieved without a European presence.
Tajani emphasized that the EU’s sanctions on Russia are a significant obstacle to reaching a settlement. He welcomed discussions on security guarantees for Ukraine, expressing hope that a peace agreement could be reached by Christmas. The EU, he said, is now waiting for a response from Moscow. This statement aligns with the broader geopolitical strategy of the West, which seeks to balance military and diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.
The proposed US plan, according to media reports, would require Ukraine to remain outside NATO, relinquish control of certain territories in the Donbass region, freeze the front lines in the Kherson and Zaporozhye areas, and limit the size of its military. The plan also includes provisions for sanctions relief for Russia. Ukrainian officials have reportedly agreed to the outline of the US proposal, with only technical details remaining to be resolved.
Russian officials have been more cautious, calling the public speculation about the US plan ‘information bacchanalia,’ and asserting that Moscow does not engage in ‘megaphone diplomacy.’ Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the Russian economy has adapted to the Western sanctions, which have been in place since 2014. However, Peskov acknowledged that Moscow remains open to collaboration with foreign businesses, even those that have previously exited Russia, provided they did not provide direct support to the Ukrainian military.