Mogherini: it is important not to force Ukraine to choose between Russia and us.

During the NATO Foreign Ministers meeting, the Italian representative explained that the challenge is “the creation of an environment allowing Kiev to have relations with both the East and the West.”

Supporting Ukraine, working with Russia. The position of the international community has been fluctuating between the needs of Kiev and the interests of Moscow, looking for an acceptable compromise for the parties. This is the position expressed by NATO Member States, as told by Federica Mogherini, Italian Foreign Minister, during the press conference held during a break of the meeting. These are “intense” days, she said. After all, the situation requires the utmost attention: “We need to avoid forcing Ukraine to choose between East and West,” underlined the Minister. Internationally speaking then, the efforts are now focused at “the creation of an environment allowing Kiev to have relations with both Russia and the Union.” Yet Russia does not trust this approach, it is afraid of the creation of too strong ties with the western countries – particularly, the potential application for joining the NATO by Kiev. Russia said they are waiting for the NATO to reassure them, but Minister Mogherini denied the fact: “The Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Andrii Deschchytisa, has repeatedly said here that Ukraine is not going to join the NATO.” Deschchytsia, added Mogherini, “has clearly pointed out that becoming a Member State is not a target for the Ukrainian government, and I think saying the issue is not in the agenda is a strong political message”

According to the Italian Minister, Kiev “is aware that this is a complex issue,” hence it is necessary to find a way to get Moscow into the dialogue. The future seems quite ambiguous, too: “So far the Ukrainian crisis hasn’t affected other dossiers, but the Syrian dossier (or other similar cases) could experience a peak of tension,” because of a change in the Russian approach, a possible “retaliation” against Europe. “We need to call Russia to a responsible behaviour on the international stage.” That is why, explained Mogherini, NATO Member States decided to suspend any kind of cooperation – civilian or military – with Russia, yet “keeping the door open to possible future partnerships.”

In the end, Mogherini talked about the new NATO Secretary General, the Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg. “Choosing him was not a debasement of our candidate nor of our position in the Organization. I would like to thank Mr Frattini for being the expression of a credible Italian candidacy.” The Foreign Minister excluded that Italy will ask or is going to ask a compensation for this: “We tend not to enter into le logics of compensations or assigned posts.”

Emanuele Bonini