ROME, March 13. /TASS/. Italy’s Eurodeputy Francesca Donato believes that the European Union bares a large share of responsibility for the growing conflict over Ukraine, because the Western leaders turned out to be unable to propose a diplomatic solution.

"We need a serious diplomatic initiative," Donato told TASS. "In the meantime, neither the European Union nor the United States have proposed anything of the sort. Other countries, including China, are expected to act as mediators. I believe that it is very shortsighted of the West to leave this in China’s hands, because from the geopolitical standpoint Europe is far more interested in restoring the balance," Donato said.

She believes that "the lack of neutrality, rationality and authority have made it impossible for the European leaders to play a role, because they have been trying to dictate unacceptable terms to Russia.

"So far, the EU has merely contributed to the conflict by pouring fuel on the fire. I am critical of the EU for this, because it bears tremendous responsibility for what has happened," she added.

Earlier, Donato voted against an anti-Russian resolution in the European parliament. On TV talk shows and on her own channels in the social networks Donato examines the events preceding the latest events in Donbass and calls for a critical and balanced vision of the situation.

"For several years Ukraine has conducted a harsh propaganda campaign of fomenting hostility towards Russia and its leaders and also towards those who in the country’s east press for independence," Donato said adding she was certain that Ukraine’s nationalist policies were fueling war-mongering. She recalled that the United States had repeatedly intervened in other countries on the pretext of struggle against human rights violations.

"The EU has never reacted to this by imposing sanctions or sending weapons to other countries," Donato stressed.

She confirmed that Facebook had deleted her official page, which had about 150,000 subscribers.