Italian Foreign Minister: "Ukraine War Will Not End This Year"

"A Quick End to the War Is a Naive Illusion"

Antonio Tajani, Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated on May 25 (local time) that "the war in Ukraine will not end, at least within this year."

Antonio Tajani, Italy's Foreign Minister, is answering questions from the press regarding the possibility of a peace talk between Ukraine and Russia on the 15th (local time) in Antalya, Turkey. Photo by AFP

In an interview published that day with the Italian daily Corriere della Sera, Minister Tajani warned of a prolonged war, noting that Russia has effectively entered a wartime economic system. He explained, "Russia has significantly shifted its industrial structure toward military production, and the pay given to a single soldier is twice that of an ordinary worker. Currently, one million troops are deployed at the front lines," adding, "Putin will not easily stop the war."

Regarding expectations that the war will end soon, he called them "naive illusions," emphasizing that "sustainable peace is only possible when a cool-headed and realistic approach is combined with strong diplomatic pressure." On the implementation of prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and Russia, he described it as a "positive signal," but added, "Even as bombs continue to fall, we must pursue diplomatic solutions in parallel."

The 27 member states of the European Union held a meeting of foreign and defense ministers in Brussels, Belgium, on May 20 and adopted the 17th package of sanctions against Russia. Minister Tajani stressed that simply imposing sanctions and military responses alone would not be enough to end the war. He also highlighted the importance of diplomatic channels through the Vatican, stating, "The Vatican can play a decisive role in the final stage of future peace negotiations," and urged, "Even if not now, we must continue to maintain channels for dialogue in preparation for the future."

Additionally, Minister Tajani reiterated that the solution to the war lies not in military force, but in diplomacy, sanctions, and sustainable pressure through international cooperation. He stated that Italy would continue to play a realistic and responsible role in this process.