Rome: Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said that sending NATO or European Union troops to a future buffer zone between Ukraine and Russia is not the most effective solution, while also stressing the need for a European fund to boost defense.

According to Qatar News Agency, Tajani added: “The solution would be to have a United Nations action, decided through the Security Council, with the commitment therefore also of China and Russia and to establish a buffer zone where there could also be Italian soldiers.” The Italian FM said that London will host a summit this weekend that will look at European defense, on which he commented: “This has become indispensable. Europe, which is part of NATO, cannot think it will always be defended by the US alone. It must provide for itself. We must do more for our defense.” Tajani said that Europe spends its defense resources badly, adding: “There is too much duplication. We need to also have European bonds, that is to say a European fund for defense.”