Silvio Berlusconi, Former Italian PM says, “no one, except the Pope and the Holy See, has solutions for peaceful resolution of Ukraine – Russia conflict”

Silvio Berlusconi, Former Italian Prime Minister said on Wednesday that, World is paying “an unsustainable price” for the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. He called for additional efforts to find a way to end the hostilities.

Berlusconi, who is currently the leader of the Forza Italia party, said that, his country remains on the side of the West, of Europe, and of NATO. He is nevertheless upset that “no one, except the Pope Francis and the Holy See, has solutions leading to a peaceful resolution of the conflict”.

Berlusconi added that, the fighting in Ukraine has entered its eleventh month. “It is costing lives, suffering and economic damage and adds a cost to the whole world”.

The Vatican, where the pontiff’s (Pope) jurisdiction is called as the Holy See, has called for a peaceful end to the fighting on numerous occasions. It expressed readiness to facilitate negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

Pope Francis called on President Vladimir Putin to stop Russia’s military operation in Ukraine during last year. He also urged Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to be “open to serious proposals for peace.”

Anyhow, Pope Francis admitted during last month that the conflict in Ukraine might last for a long time. Because, “there are many hands stirring the war pot and the conflict has evolved into a global war”
With regards to Berlusconi, he called for a peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian conflict on multiple occasions.

Berlusconi repeatedly urged both sides to cease hostilities ever since Russia launched its military operation in late February last year. Berlusconi offered to act as mediator in the talks between Russia and Ukraine.

In October, Berlusconi also proposed the way to get the two sides to come to an agreement. He suggested that Ukraine will be more inclined to negotiate with Russia, if the West stopped supplying it with weapons. Instead, they only promised Kiev “hundreds of billions of dollars” in order to rebuild the country.

Berlusconi also suggested that Ukraine can recognize Crimea as Russian territory. He called for new referendums to be held in Donbass with the observation of Western observers.