Italy's Meloni clarifies stance on Russia at Switzerland peace summit

"If Russia does not agree to the terms, we will force them to surrender," Giorgia Meloni supposedly said during the peace conference in Switzerland. Did the Italian Prime Minister really threaten Putin? Now everything has become clear. It is already known what the head of the Italian government really said.

Many comments and consternation were caused by the post of Ukrainian politician Anton Gerashchenko regarding the statement of the Italian Prime Minister during the peace summit that took place last weekend in Switzerland.

Gerashchenko quoted Giorgia Meloni on his profile on platform X, who supposedly said: "If Russia does not agree to the terms, we will force them to surrender."

Platform X included a contextual note under the Ukrainian politician's post. From it and the official text of the Italian Prime Minister's speech, it is clear that the words quoted by Gerashchenko were not said during the conference.

Meloni stood by Ukraine, directing strong words towards Russia, but the meaning was somewhat different.

- Peace does not mean capitulation, as President Putin suggests in his recent statements. That is not the case. Confusing peace with subjugation would create a dangerous precedent for everyone. Today's conference is a bold initiative that dismantles certain narratives, that is, propaganda. No one can question the absolute significance of the three key topics of global interest discussed today - nuclear safety, food security, and the human dimension, particularly the return of displaced children. They matter to all of us, and I think that, based on today's discussion, we can build a lot on this basis - the Italian Prime Minister said in Switzerland.

Russia's war against Ukraine causes suffering and destruction. Still, the pursuit of peace requires the participation of all parties," the communiqué from the summit on Ukraine held on Sunday in Buergenstock, Switzerland, said. Respect for Ukraine's territorial integrity was emphasized.

The final communiqué was signed by the majority of the over 90 countries and international organizations participating in the event. However, some important developing countries, including India, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, did not sign it.

According to commentators, the conference in Switzerland was a "demonstration of solidarity with Ukraine and proof that not only the West condemns the Kremlin's policy." They also said that a change in Vladimir Putin's position is a condition for peace negotiations.

Russia was not invited. China also did not participate in the conference.