The idea of sending Italian troops to
Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping mission, if a ceasefire is
agreed, is not currently "on the agenda", government sources
said on Tuesday.
"If one day there should be a UN mission with contingents from
several countries, perhaps we could think about it," the sources
said.
"But it is not on the agenda. It has never been discussed.
"There is no debate on this within the ruling coalition".
This position was confirmed by Government Programme
Implementation Undersecretary Giovanbattista Fazzolari.
"Sending European troops for a military cordon in Ukraine is a
hypothesis that France has long supported. Italy does not
consider it the most effective solution," Fazzolari said.
"As far as I remember, there has never been an international
interposition force between two armies of this magnitude.
"There are more than a million armed soldiers on both sides.
"An international mission with UN helmets in a situation of
peace would be a different issue.
"Italy has done peace missions like this many times. But it is
not on the agenda today".
Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani last week
expressed scepticism about British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's
plan for 30,000 Europe troops to be sent to Ukraine to maintain
a possible ceasefire agreement brokered by the US.
"If it is decided to have a peacekeeping force, I believe that
it would be better to have a United Nations force guaranteed by
the UN Security Council so as to be able to truly guarantee an
interposition force between Ukraine and Russia," Tajani said
"If there were European forces, it would take a position in
defense of Ukraine. I believe it would be better to have a
neutral area.
"Italy could have a military presence (in the force) too, but it
must be guaranteed by the United Nations Security Council in
order to avoid conflicts.
"In a buffer zone 30,000 men are not enough, at least 200,000
are needed".
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