Geopolitics seminar at the Fondazione Banco di Napoli: the consequences of Trump’s election and of Russian aggression in Ukraine

The Fondazione Banco di Napoli organised a geopolitics seminar to discuss the consequences of the US presidential election, Donald Trump’s possible return to power and the impact of that event on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

Key points of the discussion

In his speech, Italy’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Edmondo Cirielli stressed that Italy remains Ukraine’s partner not only economically but also in the democratic sphere, underlining the importance of upholding shared values.

Nicola Verola, Deputy Director General for Europe and Central Director for European Integration at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that there are no ready-made “recipes” for Ukraine’s victory, but there are important “ingredients”:

• ✓the freedom of the people;
• ✓the full restoration of internationally recognised borders;
• ✓will and time.
• ✓The position of the Ukrainian community in Italy

The President of the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy (CNAUI), Lara Levchun, was invited to the seminar. In a private conversation with Nicola Verola, she noted that to win, Ukraine needs one more “magic ingredient”: trust.

“Trust is the key to effective cooperation between our countries,” Levchun stressed.

She also drew attention to the need to develop regional cooperation as a tool for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, since this approach is the most direct and accessible one for local initiatives in both countries.

A call to Europe

Senator Mario Monti closed his speech with a resounding appeal: “Europe, wake up!”, stressing the importance of a more active EU stance in supporting Ukraine and countering the threats posed by Russia. The seminar provided an important forum for discussing new strategies for cooperation, the challenges facing Ukraine and the role of the international community in strengthening freedom, democracy and peace.