Meloni proposes a European envoy to Ukraine and a unified dialogue with Russia
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for a reassessment of the European Union's diplomatic strategy towards the Ukrainian crisis, arguing that the time has come to open direct channels of dialogue between the European bloc and Russia, but only with a unified voice and position.
At her annual press conference on Friday, Meloni stressed that Europe's role must extend beyond simply engaging with one side of the conflict, noting that limiting contact to Ukraine without Russia could restrict Europe's ability to positively influence future negotiations. She explained, "If Europe decides to participate in the current phase of negotiations by speaking to only one side, I fear its positive contribution will ultimately be limited.".
Proposal of the European Special Envoy
To ensure that European efforts are not fragmented, Meloni proposed a practical solution: the creation of a “Special European Envoy” for Ukraine. The Italian Prime Minister believes this position would enable the European Union to formulate a unified stance and speak with one voice, rather than engaging in individual actions that could undermine the overall position.
Meloni warned of the dangers of individual diplomatic moves by member states, stressing that sporadic engagement with Moscow could play into the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin. She said, “If we make the mistake of re-engaging with Russia on one hand, and of acting in a fragmented manner on the other, we will be doing Putin a favor, and that is the last thing I want.”.
The context of the conflict and the challenges of European unity
Meloni's remarks come at a sensitive time for Europe, as the Russian-Ukrainian conflict approaches its third year. Since the outbreak of war in February 2022, the European Union has adopted successive rounds of unprecedented economic sanctions against Moscow, while providing substantial military and financial support to Kyiv. However, European diplomacy has at times been hampered by differing views between countries favoring a hardline approach and others preferring to maintain open channels of communication.
Meloni's proposal reflects Italy's desire to bolster the EU's geopolitical influence, enabling it to be an active player in any future settlement rather than merely a funder of the war effort. Meloni, a prominent supporter of Kyiv in its confrontation with Moscow, emphasizes that the call for dialogue does not signify abandoning Ukraine, but rather managing the conflict more effectively to safeguard the continent's security interests.
The G7's position and the future
Regarding the possibility of Russia returning to the G7, Meloni ruled out any speculation at the moment, considering it “premature” to talk about this at the present stage, which confirms that the call for dialogue is conditional and does not mean a full normalization of relations without resolving the crisis.
It is worth noting that Italy plays a pivotal role in NATO and the European Union, and Meloni's government seeks to balance a firm commitment to supporting Ukraine with the search for a political horizon that spares the continent a long-term war of attrition.
