Italy's Defense Minister calls on Ukraine, Russia to hold talks with China's mediation

Minister Crosetto made the statement in an interview with La Stampa. 

According to him, Italy is making efforts to guarantee Ukraine's right to defend itself and at the same time is doing everything to bring Moscow and Kyiv to the negotiating table.  

"The only thing we can try to do is not to end the war, but to stop the clashes and try to put two parties who do not talk to each other at the same table. Everyone is doing great at pouring gasoline on the fire, but there are no firefighters. We need firefighters in a world where the UN, which is supposed to do this, has lost this function," Crosetto said. 

He shared his opinion that China is capable of mediating the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.  

"Can it be China? It should be a party at the peace negotiations table. This is one of the questions we have to ask ourselves in Italy and in Europe," Crosetto added.

• On April 6, Chinese leader Xi Jinping, at a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, called for the start of peace talks on Ukraine as soon as possible.