Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister
Antonio Tajani on Thursday said security could not be guaranteed
in Ukraine and Europe without a solid transatlantic relationship
and NATO and that it was impossible to achieve without the US.
Speaking on the sidelines of a European People's Party (EPP)
meeting prior to a summit of EU leaders on Ukraine and European
security, Tajani said it was "absolutely impossible to think of
guaranteeing the security of Ukraine and Europe without a solid
transatlantic relationship and without NATO.
"It is fundamental, and we have said this from the start, it
can't be done without the US", he reiterated.
"Having said this, it also means that we have to play our part,
or spend more on our security.
"Security is not war, it also means the security of our streets,
experienced by our compatriots every day, even running risks and
threats like terrorism", Tajani said on the sidelines of the
event.
Tajani, who also leads the centre-right Forza Italia (FI) party
in the EPP, told reporters who had asked him whether he trusted
US President Donald Trump that he "trusts everyone".
"Trump is the President of the United States of America.
"We are allies of the United States of America, regardless of
who is president, it's not possible to be friends with the
Americans based on the support for this or that party", he said,
replying to a question.
Asked whether he trusted Russian President Vladimir Putin,
Tajani said it depended on whether an accord was reached.
"It's necessary to be pragmatic, it's not a matter of trust or
distrust.
"Certainly Putin did not respect international law, we will see
how he behaves, if he will maintain pacts or not, we must be
pragmatic and not ideological", said Tajani.
The foreign minister also reiterated Italy would not deploy
troops as part of European or NATO missions but would consider
being part of a UN peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, replying to
a specific question on the issue.
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