Naples, 21 Apr. (LaPresse) – ‘We cannot now think that Russian gas is the solution. Because it would strengthen Putin, financing his criminal invasion of Ukraine.’ So said Elly Schlein, secretary of the Democratic Party, in an interview with La Stampa. ‘In Spain,’ she explains, ‘the price of gas accounts for only 15% of energy costs, whereas in Italy it accounts for 80%. Sánchez has invested in renewables and today they are far less dependent on gas than we are, whether it be Russian or American. We absolutely must accelerate the transition to clean energy; we can do so in the short term.’ Asked about the Five Star Movement’s position on the conflict in Ukraine, Schlein emphasised: “We all agree on peace; we will soon organise a joint demonstration together. And we all agree on the need to intensify negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. There are differing views on military support for Kyiv and on how to achieve a just peace for the Ukrainians. But this is the only foreign policy issue on which there are differences. On Gaza and Iran, we are united.”