Mattarella: "Russia's aggressive posture continues, it has destroyed the balance of peace."

"On the level of the reality of international relations, Russia's choice and posture have, rather than overturned, obliterated the balance ; a balance that guarantees peace and dissuades war adventures . It is history—a teacher of life—that teaches us that, until we have succeeded in eliminating from international life the temptations of domination over other peoples (which, more or less, is equivalent to making evil disappear from humanity ), it is the balance that prevents us from following the temptations of domination."

With strength, determination, and undaunted by the insults coming from Moscow, the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella , responds to the gesture he suffered today. The context is the Fan Ceremony at the Quirinale, held on the very day that Russia , on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' website, added the name of the head of state , along with those of ministers Guido Crosetto and Antonio Tajani, to the list of personalities considered Russophobic .

" Russia's aggressive stance in Ukraine continues, a distressing one , which is a burden on the prospects of the European continent and its young people ," adds the Quirinale President, specifying: "It is well known that the EU and NATO countries that, along with Russia, border the Baltic Sea, are gravely concerned, if not—as has been stated— the belief that Russia, following its attack on Ukraine, is cultivating plans for further, new acts of aggression , to the detriment of their security, if not even the independence of some of them. These profound and unexpected changes," adds President Mattarella, "have caused, among other consequences, understandable disorientation in public opinion. This disorientation is aggravated by the skillful and perverse spread of false news and misrepresentations."

In September 2021, these halls hosted the annual meeting of the non-governing presidents of the European Union. During the discussions, the then President of Finland, Sauli Niinisto , informed those present that, given that 2025—this year—would be the fiftieth anniversary of the 1975 Helsinki Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, Finland would be promoting a new conference to review the state of cooperation on the continent and define criteria for its development. This announcement was based on the proud assertion that Finland would be able to play this role again because it is neutral,” recalled Sergio Mattarella. "After five months, Finland has resolutely applied to join NATO, of which it is now a member. Because Russia's aggression against Ukraine has changed the history of Europe . That great country, in whose cooperation we had placed great trust in the European Union, has increasingly taken on a disconcerting form aimed at a clash of military power ," the head of state continues.