Check against delivery! 

Thank you.  Thank you, Tony [Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State].   

I like to be considered a friend of first resort. It is a nice expression.  Usually, you talk about the lender of last resort, and to be a friend of that resort is a good thing.  We are friends of first resort.  We count on each other.  Our relationship, the transatlantic relationship, is stronger than ever. 

We are working together defending and supporting Ukraine from the Russian aggressions. It will be a good occasion to explain to the world again that the food and energy crisis is not a consequence of our sanctions but the consequences of the war and of the Russian blockade of the [grain exports] coming from Ukraine.  

I think that we have to make a bigger effort in order to counter this Russian narrative.  It is important for the world to understand who is guilty for that, who is the one who owes us causing crises in the world. 

And this partnership and relationship is also important for the events in the Indo-Pacific, facing the situation in this area especially with respect to China.  There is some news on this front and we have to talk about it.  

And then we will use this opportunity also to share with, again, the Secretary of State, about the JCPOA negotiations which we have been trying to push. And these days, there will be a new round of negotiations - let’s hope that it can be fruitful.

And also about the situation of the world economy, because the war in Ukraine has created a tectonic change and is sending shockwaves around the world, and everybody is paying the price for that.  In Europe, we will have to face the gas shortage.  Thank you for your contribution to substitute with American gas the Russian gas that we are going to receive in these weeks. 

Thank you for the opportunity and thank you for a strong cooperation and friendship.