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Italian PM Giorgia Meloni Describes Putin's Ceasefire Offer For Ukraine As 'Propaganda'

When asked about Putin's cease-fire proposal, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni said it 'Seems to me more like a propaganda move than a real one. If President Putin's proposal is: We are willing to have a peace negotiation if Ukraine recognizes the invasion of Ukraine and gives up the occupied parts ... doesn't seem particularly effective to me as a proposal.'

AP
Italian PM Giorgia Meloni | Photo: AP
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Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni on Saturday dismissed a cease-fire offer for Ukraine by Russian President Vladimir Putin as 바카라propaganda,바카라 as she wrapped up a Group of Seven summit that saw a deal reached for a USD 50 billion loan to Ukraine.

The loan will be provided by the US, UK, Canada and possibly Japan, Meloni said. The frozen Russian assets to be used as collateral are mainly in Europe, 바카라so Europe is already contributing by identifying the guarantee mechanism,바카라 she added.

The loan agreement was reached at the opening Thursday of the two-day annual meeting of leaders from the G7 countries of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States in southern Italy's Puglia region.

Asked about Putin's cease-fire proposal, Meloni said it 바카라seems to me more like a propaganda move than a real one.바카라

The Russian president said Friday he would 바카라immediately바카라 order a cease-fire in Ukraine and start negotiations if Kyiv begins withdrawing troops from the four regions Moscow annexed in 2022 and renounces plans to join NATO.

바카라If President Putin's proposal is: We are willing to have a peace negotiation if Ukraine recognizes the invasion of Ukraine and gives up the occupied parts ... doesn't seem particularly effective to me as a proposal,바카라 Meloni said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was one of several world leaders who attended the G7 as a guest, has rejected what he called an ultimatum by Putin to surrender more territory.

Switzerland was hosting a peace conference for Ukraine Saturday, although with Russia staying away, it was doubtful whether any major breakthroughs could be reached.

During the news conference, Meloni was asked about the Israel-Hamas war and why the G7 had not condemned Israel over the civilian deaths resulting from its offensives in Gaza.

바카라I think we need to remember who started all this and it wasn't Israel, but someone who killed civilians, women and children,바카라 Meloni said, referring to the October 7 attack by Hamas in southern Israel that left around 1,200 people dead and sparked the war. Israel's bombardment and ground attacks in Gaza have killed more than 37,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials, who don't give the breakdown of civilians and fighters.

바카라Now we must work for peace, which means dialogue, recognizing Israel's right to be safe, to live in peace, and the right of the Palestinians to have their own state in which to live peacefully,바카라 she said. 바카라It is the only way to address this problem, our job is to dialogue with everyone.바카라

However, she said, Israel was falling into a trap in its response to October 7.

바카라It looks like Israel is jumping into a trap. For the trap of Hamas was to isolate it. It seems it is working,바카라 Meloni said, adding that Israel's friends 바카라need to give clear words to Israel, for its safety 바카라 and this is exactly what Italy is doing.바카라

The Italian premier also expressed satisfaction that 바카라the G7 spoke for the first time about migratory flows and the fight against human traffickers.바카라

바카라We must guarantee to everyone the right not to emigrate and to leave one's home바카라, she said.

Known for her hard-line stance on migration, Meloni had introduced the subject as the summit's host and has been eager to increase investment and funding for African nations as a means of reducing migratory pressure on Europe.

Italy is one of the main entry points into the European Union for people fleeing poverty and conflict in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

In their final summit communique, the G7 announced a coalition to counter the smuggling of migrants, noting the seven nations would 바카라focus on the root causes of irregular migration, efforts to enhance border management and curb transnational organized crime, and safe and regular pathways for migration.바카라

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