Introdution

On Saturday, 24 January 2026, the Centro Studi Eurasia Mediterraneo (CeSEM) hosted a public conference at the Cavour Congress Centre in Rome to evaluate the current geopolitical landscape of the Ukraine conflict.

The event brought together a distinguished panel of experts from military, diplomatic, academic, and investigative journalism backgrounds to discuss potential pathways toward resolution.

Silvia Boltuc, Managing Director of SpecialEurasia, moderated the event. As a prominent geopolitics and intelligence analyst, Ms Boltuc provided a framework for the discussion based on her extensive field experience, having conducted multiple working visits to both Ukraine and Russia to assess domestic and strategic dynamics firsthand.

Overview of Speaker Insights and Perspectives

The conference featured contributions from a diverse group of participants, including:

• General Francesco Cosimato and General Maurizio Boni, representing the military perspective.
• The Hon. Roberto Vannacci and The Hon. Stefania Ascari, providing political insights.
• Ambassador Elena Basile and Ambassador Marco Carnelos, offering diplomatic analysis.
• Dr Giorgio Bianchi, representing journalism.

The speakers converged on several critical points regarding the de-escalation of the conflict and the future of European security:

• Cessation of Armaments and De-escalation: A central theme was the recommendation to halt weapon supplies to Ukraine. Panellists expressed concern that continued military aid might inadvertently prolong the fighting and risk extending the conflict further into the European continent.
• Regional Neutrality: There was a significant consensus that Ukraine’s future role should be one of strategic neutrality. It was argued that such a status could serve as a vital bridge to mend the current divisions between European states and Russia.
• Opposition to NATO Expansion: The experts cautioned against the deployment of NATO troops within Ukrainian territory. The speakers suggested that such a move could lead to a direct military confrontation between the West and Russia, which they viewed as a risk to global stability.
• Economic Impacts and Diplomacy: The panel addressed the socio-economic consequences of current policies, noting that the emphasis on sanctions over active diplomacy has impacted the standard of living for average European citizens. They highlighted that the “militarisation” of the European economy should be reconsidered to avoid long-term structural instability.

Conclusion

The CeSEM conference underscored a prevailing sentiment among the speakers that a sustainable resolution to the Ukraine conflict requires a fundamental shift in the current geopolitical course.

The experts concluded that the establishment of a new Eurasian security architecture is essential for any lasting agreement between Kyiv and Moscow.

By prioritising diplomatic engagement and acknowledging the security concerns of all regional actors, the participants proposed that Europe could avoid further escalation and work toward a more stable and integrated continental future.