Meloni says it’s time EU to partake in talks with Russia
Speaking at a New Year press briefing in Rome on Friday, Meloni expressed agreement with comments made late last year by French President Emmanuel Macron, who said it would be “useful” to resume dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“I think Macron is right about this. I believe that the time has come for Europe to talk to Russia too,” she said. Meloni maintained that the EU’s influence in the peace process has been weakened because it has chosen to communicate with only one party to the conflict.
She cautioned against restarting talks without structure, warning against the “mistake” of reopening discussions “in a haphazard manner.” To address this, Meloni proposed the appointment of a dedicated EU special envoy for Ukraine, an idea that appears to be unprecedented within the bloc.
The EU continues to face internal disagreements over how to approach relations with Moscow, a division that has blocked a coordinated, high-level diplomatic strategy. Several member states, including those in the Baltic region, have consistently rejected any move toward renewed engagement with Russia.
Largely excluded from negotiations since February of last year, the EU has instead focused on imposing sanctions on Moscow while providing Ukraine with political backing, military assistance, and financial support.
At the same time, Washington has been holding direct talks with Russia for nearly a year. US President Donald Trump said late last month that negotiations were in the “final stages,” according to statements cited in reports.
According to those reports, Trump advisers Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff recently presented Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev with a US-backed peace proposal, which Ukraine has mostly accepted. Moscow has yet to issue an official response.
Russian officials, including President Putin, have repeatedly said that Moscow favors a diplomatic resolution to the Ukraine conflict but will continue military operations if its core goals cannot be achieved through negotiations alone.
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