Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called on the European Union to appoint a representative for peace negotiations with Russia, thereby expressing her position in the debate on how to engage with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, Bloomberg reports, according to UNN.
"Our firmness toward Russia must not turn into diplomatic blindness or self-exclusion. Europe must collectively and pragmatically consider how to engage with Moscow,"
In scheduled remarks ahead of next week's G7 and European leaders' summits, Meloni reaffirmed Italy's support for Ukraine and stated that "the key is to find someone who can represent European interests at the negotiating table."
With her statement, the Italian Prime Minister advocated for a broader discussion after being excluded from a meeting in London last weekend with the so-called E3 leaders – Keir Starmer of the UK, Emmanuel Macron of France, and Friedrich Merz of Germany, the publication notes.
"The real question is not who is part of one format or another, but that no format currently has the legitimacy to speak for Europe as a whole," Meloni said. The shifting spectrum of voices does not represent Europe properly and creates "only fragmentation, confusion, weakness," she added.
Meloni first stated that Europe must talk to Russia earlier this year.
Meloni, whose governing coalition has at times faced questions regarding support for Ukraine and whether Ukraine should join the bloc, also stated that Italy would continue to "actively" support its defense and energy systems.
European Commission names condition for appointing envoy for negotiations with Russia26.05.26, 16:54