Summary

Rome, 18 Oct. (LaPresse) – “We reject war and want to work seriously to build paths to peace. For the Ukrainians, for the Palestinians and also for the Iranians. Including those fighting for freedom against the brutal theocratic regime in Tehran.” So said PD Secretary Elly Schlein, speaking at the Democratic Party’s national assembly, currently taking place at La Nuvola in Rome. “We have always supported, and continue to support, the Ukrainian people, who have suffered a criminal act of aggression at the hands of Putin, because it is unacceptable for borders to be drawn through the use of armed force and military might. At the same time, we call on the European Union to make a diplomatic and political effort to help bring about a ceasefire and to negotiate a just peace – one that does not amount to surrender to the aggressor’s demands. The European Union must appoint a single European negotiator to work alongside Ukraine in establishing the conditions for negotiations and a just peace. Otherwise, we will leave the field open to these ambiguous phone calls between Trump and Putin and to the cynical horse-trading over diesel fuel, at the expense of the Ukrainian people. ‘It is clear that European and Ukrainian security interests must be defended by a single, strong voice from the European Union,’ he added. ‘The European Union was founded as a project for peace and must remain a project for peace. If you want peace, you must prepare for peace. This is what we are also calling for, alongside the support we are providing: to work for peace, for a diplomatic and political effort that has so far been lacking.’ Ukraine, Schlein: “Support for Kyiv, but if you want peace, prepare for peace” Rome, 18 Oct. (LaPresse) – “We reject war and want to work seriously to build paths to peace. For the Ukrainians, for the Palestinians and also for the Iranians. Including those fighting for freedom against the brutal theocratic regime in Tehran.” So said PD Secretary Elly Schlein, speaking at the Democratic Party’s national assembly, currently taking place at La Nuvola in Rome. “We have always supported, and continue to support, the Ukrainian people, who have suffered a criminal act of aggression at the hands of Putin, because it is unacceptable for borders to be drawn through the use of armed force and military might. At the same time, we call on the European Union to make a diplomatic and political effort to help bring about a ceasefire and to negotiate a just peace – one that does not amount to surrender to the aggressor’s demands. The European Union must appoint a single European negotiator to work alongside Ukraine in establishing the conditions for negotiations and a just peace. Otherwise, we will leave the field open to these ambiguous phone calls between Trump and Putin and to the cynical horse-trading over diesel fuel, at the expense of the Ukrainian people. ‘It is clear that European and Ukrainian security interests must be defended by a single, strong voice from the European Union,’ he added. ‘The European Union was founded as a project for peace and must remain a project for peace. If you want peace, you must prepare for peace. This is what we are also calling for, alongside the support we are providing: to work for peace, for a diplomatic and political effort that has so far been lacking.’