Giorgia Meloni, conciliatory towards the plan proposed by Trump: “There are many acceptable points”
Giorgia Meloni Photo: Marco Longari / AP / Profimedia
The head of the Italian government, Giorgia Meloni, said on Sunday that it is not necessary to present “a complete counter-proposal” to the American plan intended to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, even if many aspects still need to be discussed, reports France Presse, taken over by Agerpres.
“I don't think the issue is to work on a full counter-proposal. There are many acceptable points in the plan we read,” Meloni told a news conference at the G20 summit in Johannesburg. “It is much more judicious to work on the existing proposal and focus on the really crucial issues,” she added.
The Italian prime minister's comments come as senior US and Ukrainian officials meet in Geneva to discuss President Donald Trump's controversial 28-point plan to end the nearly four-year conflict.
The Europeans' counterproposal to the American plan for Ukraine. What changes did they make to the document?
Donald Trump has given Ukraine until November 27 to approve the plan. Kiev and some of its European allies want changes to the draft that accepts a series of maximalist demands from Russia, notably asking the invaded country to cede territory, reduce its military and commit to never joining NATO.
Meloni, who had a telephone conversation with Donald Trump on Sunday, said that the talks are “at a very delicate stage” and constitute a “maturity test” for Europe.
“Some points of the American plan must of course be discussed: the issue of the territories, the issue of financing the reconstruction, the issue of the Ukrainian army. There are also many points that I consider positive, especially in terms of security guarantees,” she emphasized.
LIVE Crucial negotiations in Geneva between the US-Ukraine-Europe. Rubio talks about “the best meeting ever” / The changes proposed by Europe and the message of Ukraine
The American plan was developed without the participation of Ukraine's European allies. But “part of this plan needs Europe to be implemented, and this concerns the issue of security guarantees, the issue of reconstruction, the issue of Ukraine's accession to the European Union”, added Giorgia Meloni.
Giorgia Meloni explained that she asked Donald Trump during their phone conversation “to understand if we can get at least a temporary ceasefire on the strategic infrastructures” bombed by Russia in Ukraine. “The Russians must also give a concrete signal that they really want to reach peace,” the Italian prime minister emphasized.
