No sign of Russian de-escalation yet says Draghi

(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 17 - There has been as yet no sign of Russian de-escalation at Ukraine's borders, Premier Mario Draghi said after an informal EU summit on the Ukraine crisis Thursday.
    "For the moment we have not seen instances of de-escalation on the ground," he said.
    "We must pursue the strategy of strong deterrence, we must not show we are weak," he went on.
    Draghi said he would soon travel to Moscow with the aim of setting up a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.
    "The aim is now to get Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky sitting at the table," he said.
    "Italy is doing everything possible to support this direction".
    The Italian PM confirmed that his mission to Moscow is being prepared.
    Draghi also said that NATO was united and would not renege on its principles.
    "Our unity is the thing that has most struck Russia. We could have split because, for example, there are very many countries in NATO, and not only that which is defined as the West. We cannot renounce the founding principles of the Alliance".
    (ANSA).