Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated that it is time for the European Union to initiate dialogue with Russia in order to play a meaningful role in the ongoing negotiations over Ukraine.
“I think the moment has come for Europe to speak with Russia as well. If Europe chooses to participate in this stage of negotiations by only talking to one of the two sides, I fear that the positive contribution it could make will remain limited,” Meloni said during a press conference.
She emphasized that this is not a new idea, aligning with French President Emmanuel Macron, who in December 2025 suggested that it would be “very useful” for Europe to resume direct dialogue with Vladimir Putin, especially if U.S. peace efforts stall.
However, Meloni warned against an uncoordinated approach:
“If we make the mistake of reopening channels of communication with Russia but do so in a fragmented and uncoordinated way, we would be doing Putin a favor. And the last thing I want in my life is to do Putin a favor.”
To avoid this, the Italian PM proposed the appointment of an EU Special Envoy for Ukraine, which would allow Europe to speak with one voice and coordinate its position. She has supported this idea since the start of the conflict, criticizing Europe for having “too many voices and formats.”
This stance comes in a context where the United States, under the Trump administration, is leading the main peace negotiations for Ukraine, while Europe seeks a more active role.
Meloni also clarified that it is “absolutely premature” to discuss Russia’s return to the G8 (formerly G7) and reiterated that Italy does not intend to send troops to Ukraine for security guarantees.
