Berlusconi allowed “clearance” in the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis

There may be a “clearance” in a diplomatic solution to the crisis in Ukraine, former Italian Prime Minister and leader of the Forza Italia party Silvio Berlusconi said in interview la Repubblica.

“Defending the interests of Ukraine and working for peace are not incompatible paths. Moreover, I believe that every sane person should do both. I am convinced that the US administration is well aware of this. Perhaps there is some kind of light. Let’s work on it,” he said (quote according to RIA Novosti).

The Forward Italy party continues to support the allocation of military aid to Ukraine, Berlusconi added, also noting that he had not spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin for a long time.

Berlusconi said in October that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky maybe stop the fighting if he orders his military to stop the attacks. “If he said, ‘I don’t attack anymore,’ it would all be over,” he said at the time about Zelensky. In addition, Berlusconi said that at present there are no strong leaders in the EU and the US who could intervene in order to end the conflict, adding that he himself could become such a leader.

Since the outbreak of hostilities, the parties have held talks several times in February and March, mediated by Turkey. The previous meeting of representatives of Russia and Ukraine took place on March 29 in Istanbul, after which the process was frozen.

The Kremlin has repeatedly spoken about Ukraine’s unwillingness to negotiate with Russia. At the end of November, Peskov said that negotiations between the two countries are now impossible, since they are denied by the Ukrainian side. Then Peskov added that in order to resume dialogue, Ukraine must not only repeal the law refusing to negotiate with Moscow, but also show political will.