Meloni: Europe should talk to Russia again on Ukraine war

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday backed holding talks between Europe and Russia amid international efforts to end the Ukraine war.

“I believe the time has come for Europe and Russia to talk,” she told her annual press conference in Rome.

“For, if Europe decides to participate in this negotiation phase, but talks to only one of the parties to the conflict, I fear that the positive contribution that it could make will in the end be limited,” she said.

A few weeks ago, French President Emmanuel Macron said it could be sensible and useful for Europe and Ukraine to talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin in order to be directly involved in the discussion.

In her comments on Friday, Meloni referred to Macron’s words and said she thought he was right on this point.