Four days after the summit on Ukraine in Switzerland, a conference dubbed “The Peace Project in Ukraine” was held on June 20 , 2024 at the Italian Parliament in Rome.
The conference discussed the various options for resolving the Ukrainian crisis and ending the suffering of the civilian population.
The debate was moderated by MP Annarita Patriarca with the presence of high level speakers and political leaders including senators and parliamentarians who emphasised the suffering in Ukraine and the need to reach peace.
Vatican’s position on negotiation
The central presentation was made by Monsignor Fabrizio Turriziani, Colonna Judicial Vicar of the Catholics of Armenia, Georgia, Russia and Eastern Europe, who mentioned the position of the Vatican. He began his presentation with a quote from Pope Francis: “We must have the courage to negotiate”. He said. “Negotiation is never surrender; it requires courage. Achieving peace entails making sacrifices—relinquishing personal principles or specific rights in favor of broader, universal ones”. He called for an action to start direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine: “The Pope stated that in order to achieve peace, “we must construct a bridge,” but to construct this bridge, we must be willing to sacrifice something.
In Christian culture, there is ultimately no such thing as a just war. It may be acknowledged that a war could be inevitable. However, it can never be termed as just. A peace project can only succeed through dialogue, creating a bridge where opposing positions can converge, albeit requiring concessions for the greater good”, he said .
Impact on women and children
Ms Manel Msalmi, President of the European Association for the Defence of Minorities and advocate of women’s rights, raised the situation of women and children in Ukraine and the human losses caused by the war, as well as the need to focus on the education of young people who have not been learning for four years. She said that the Swiss talks have not brought a solution because Ukraine and Russia need to be brought to a negotiating table through mediators. Saudi Arabia and some other countries are already trying to bring Ukraine and Russia together to dialogue.
“However, it would be more effective if Europe was to lead this process, as the conflict is being fought on the European soil”. She said.
Ms Msalmi also noted a threat of nuclear war as it comes up from the recent statement of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
Necessity of permanent dialogue
Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Infrastructure Tullio Ferrante stated that “the establishment of a permanent dialogue with all members of the international community is crucial, as a just peace can only be achieved while preserving the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
At the same time, it is essential to continue humanitarian support funded by military and reconstruction operations for Ukraine,” he said.
Economic impact and neutrality
Professor Jeffrey Sachs from Columbia University pointed out the economic impact of the war on Europe and the world and emphasised the need to avoid escalation and talk about peace. “The EU must not accept Putin’s terms, but must be prepared to negotiate,” he said. Sachs also explained that the expansion of NATO could be a mistake for the West and that it will be wise to have countries with neutral status between NATO and Russia instead of on two sides of one border. In his opinion, the Italian people are characterised by their independent thinking, which is why he expects them to think about negotiating peace with Russia.
Call for peace
Member of the Chamber of Deputies Francesco Maria Rubano, Senator Francesco Silvestro and Magistrate Catello Maresca also spoke out on the terrible consequences of the ongoing war and the need to establish peace. Despite the different views on the right way to end the war, the participants declared their intention to bring peace and stability to Europe.
Summary
The conference in Rome addressed the urgent need for peace in Ukraine, highlighting the suffering of civilians and the importance of negotiations. Speakers stressed the role of international dialogue, humanitarian support, and the potential for Europe to lead peace efforts. Economic impacts and the importance of neutrality were also discussed, with a unified call for peace and stability in Europe.
Keywords: Ukraine crisis, peace negotiations, Vatican, women and children, economic impact, NATO expansion, humanitarian support, European leadership.
