Premier Giorgia Meloni said that Tuesday's telephone conversation between United States President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has opened up hope of an end to the war in Ukraine as she reported to the Lower House on Wednesday ahead of this week's EU summit.
"Yesterday there was a long conversation between President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin," Meloni said.
"Among the issues discussed was the hypothesis of a partial ceasefire limited to strategic infrastructures.
"It is a very first glimmer of hope that goes in the direction of what was agreed between (the) Trump (administration) and Zelensky in Jeddah".
Meloni also reiterated her call for NATO to extend Article 5 protection to Ukraine without membership of the alliance.
"I have held a position that seems to have been clear, both on the proposals that some of our colleagues are putting forward, which in my opinion are not very effective," the premier said in a possible reference to the idea of sending European peacekeeping troops to Ukraine if an agreement to end the war is reached.
"And on the one that Italy is putting forward - that is, to extend a structure that regards NATO's article 5 to Ukraine.
"It is simpler and more effective than the other proposals also because it would also help to reveal a bluff.
"If Russia is not planning on invading its neighbors again, it is not clear why it would not accept guarantees of defensive security".
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