The Italian Government fully assumes the role of mediator in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, contributing to relaunching international diplomatic action in favor of peace. These are the requests that two motions addressed to the Government have in common, focused on the conflict triggered by the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, presented by Modena Sociale-Indipendenza! and Pd and approved by the City Council at the meeting on Monday 15 April.
In detail, the Assembly approved the Modena Sociale-Independence document! which asks, in particular, to stop the sending of weapons by Italy to Ukraine (act approved with also the vote in favor of Europa Verde-Verdi, Sinistra per Modena, Independent Group for Modena and Movimento 5 stelle, the vote against of the Pd and Fratelli d’Italia and the abstention of Lega Modena and the Pd councilors Antonio Carpentieri, Lucia Connola and Stefano Manicardi; while the Prime Minister Fabio Poggi and the Pd councilor Vittorio Reggiani opted not to vote).
The agenda of the Democratic Party was also approved That asks the Government to contribute to a renewed and more incisive commitment of the European Union in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine (document approved with also the vote in favor of Europa Verde-Verdi, Sinistra per Modena and Movimento 5 stelle, the vote against of the Group independent for Modena and Modena Sociale-Indipendenza! and the abstention of Lega Modena, Fratelli d’Italia and Stefano Manicardi of the Democratic Party; while the president Fabio Poggi and Vittorio Reggiani of the Democratic Party opted not to vote).
Compared to the original text, an amendment from the Democratic Party itself changed the subject of the motion from “Supply of arms to Ukraine” to “Russia-Ukraine conflict” and eliminated from the requests to the Government the commitment “to ensure that the Ukrainian people and institutions have what is foreseen from article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which establishes the right to individual and collective self-defense”. The amendment was approved with the vote in favor of Europa Verde-Verdi, Sinistra per Modena and Movimento 5 stelle, the vote against of Modena Sociale-Indipendenza! and the abstention of the independent Group for Modena, Lega Modena and Fratelli d’Italia; I don’t vote for the president Fabio Poggi and for Federica Di Padova and Vittorio Reggiani of the Democratic Party.
Going into the detail of the two documents, the main request to the Government of Modena Social-Independence! is to cease the supply of weapons to Ukraine, to therefore assume a role as an international mediator, in line with the tradition of Italian foreign policy and with “the voice” of the city of Modena, which has always been in favor of peace. It is specified, in fact, that to date the only solution to the conflict is to return to the table of diplomatic negotiations, but in order for Italy to truly assume a central role it is necessary, precisely, to interrupt the supply of weapons in order to unite, with the necessary neutrality , to ongoing mediation efforts.
The PD motion also asks the Government to contribute to a renewed and more incisive diplomatic and political commitment of the European Union, also hoping for the organization of a future peace conference in Rome. In particular, the document asks the executive to work for an immediate ceasefire and for the withdrawal of all Russian military forces who have been illegitimately occupying Ukrainian soil for over two years. Furthermore, it is asked to continue supporting the Ukrainian population at home, as well as to implement reception measures for people fleeing due to the war.
