Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto told Il Messaggero yesterday, reported Reuters, that negotiations for peace in Ukraine must begin with Russia. He contended that economic sanctions against Russia had failed, because the West had overestimated its economic influence in the world, making the sanctions ineffective. Hence, he said: “Instead ... the only way to resolve this crisis is to involve everyone, first [to obtain] a truce and then peace.” The interviewer posited that Russian President Putin had shown no willingness to negotiate, to which Crosetto replied: “That is a good reason for us to try harder. We mustn’t give up any possible path of diplomacy, however narrow.”