ROME, August 11. /TASS/. An Italian politician has called for settling the Ukrainian conflict diplomatically, saying that any assistance to Ukraine is senseless.

"Sending weapons and continuing to send billions in funding only protracts a war that is devastating Ukraine and bringing the European economy to its knees. Enough weapons, enough writing checks. Right now, only one thing is needed: a diplomatic solution that will lead to the establishment of peace, the kind of peace that is possible today, because peace tomorrow will cost far more," Roberto Vannacci, a retired Italian general who is now a member of the European Parliament and leader of the National Future party, wrote on his Facebook account (Facebook is banned in Russia due to its ownership by Meta, which has been designated as extremist).

He was commenting on media reports about blocking the port of Odessa and other Ukrainian ports. According to the Corriere della Sera newspaper, the Ukrainian army is unable to intercept Russian missiles. "They keep on saying that Ukraine is gaining the upper hand. Four years of support for Kiev: billions of euro were spent on gold toilets, villas, and yachts. Weapons supplies have depleted European arsenals, the sanction-based energy policy has sent energy prices soaring - and all of this just to state today that the Russian army continues advancing and [Ukraine’s] air defenses are not intercepting missiles and the Black Sea is paralyzed," the general continued. "Isn’t it time to stop saying that military support helps strengthen Kiev’s negotiating positions? This strategy leads to nowhere."

His party, which comprises eight lawmakers who, like him, have quitted the League party, which is a member of the ruling coalition, insists on halting arms supplies to Kiev. In general terms, the National Future is close to the center-right wing, and it cannot be ruled out that a coalition agreement may be reached at the next year’s parliamentary elections. In that case, according to analysts, the ruling parties, which currently hold pro-Ukrainian positions, will have to adjust their stance.