Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni urged Europe on Friday to reopen dialogue with Russia to contribute effectively to ending the war in Ukraine, but warned that any uncoordinated approach would benefit Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Speaking at her traditional New Year’s press conference in Rome, Meloni aligned with French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent call for renewed European engagement with Moscow. “I think Macron is right on this. I believe the time has come for Europe to also speak with Russia,” she said.
She cautioned that limited participation by only addressing one side—Ukraine—would hinder Europe’s role. “If Europe decides to participate in this phase of negotiations by speaking only with one of the two sides, I fear that in the end the positive contribution it can make will be limited,” Meloni added.
The core challenge, she emphasized, lies in coordination: “The problem is who should do it, because if we were to make the mistake of deciding, on the one hand, to reopen dialogue with Russia, and on the other, to proceed in a disorganised way, we would be doing Putin a favour. And the last thing I want to do in life is do Putin a favour.”
Meloni proposed appointing a dedicated EU envoy to handle direct talks with Putin, ensuring a single, coherent European position amid multiple voices and formats that have complicated diplomacy from the outset.
Diplomatic Context
Her statements arrive as U.S.-led negotiations under President Donald Trump accelerate to end the nearly four-year conflict. Moscow has shown no public willingness for concessions or security guarantees like Western troops in Ukraine, despite Kyiv seeking modifications to initial U.S. proposals that backed Russian demands.
Meloni underscored Italy’s unwavering support for Ukraine but ruled out troop deployments for any peace enforcement. She deemed Russia’s readmission to the G7—reviving the suspended G8 format—”absolutely premature.”
France and Britain recently signed a declaration for potential multinational forces in Ukraine post-ceasefire, reflecting allied efforts for durable peace.
