Efforts to reach a Ukraine peace deal are being obstructed because European leaders, who are facing trouble at home, are shifting their political problems onto the international stage, according to Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini.
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Salvini, said the EU had been absent from earlier talks and was now working against the peace track.
Salvini said: “Now it seems to me that it [Europe] is boycotting the peace process, perhaps because French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and other leaders are struggling at home and therefore need to export their problems abroad“.
RT reports: He emphasized that Italy was not a party to the conflict, adding: “I don’t want my children to go to war against Russia.” (unlike the UK, where Brits are being warned they may need to sacrifice their sons and daughters)
Salvini argued dialogue should take priority when dealing with a nuclear-armed power, noting that “when there is a power that has 6,000 nuclear warheads,” then the “dialogue” advocated by Pope Leo is the only viable path.
Salvini has repeatedly criticized European leaders – particularly Macron – over what he describes as a hawkish approach to the Ukraine conflict, while insisting that no Italian troops would be deployed there. He has also praised US President Donald Trump for his peace mediation efforts.
In previous comments, Salvini has called Macron a “madman,” accusing him of trying to drag the EU into a war with Russia and arguing that his rhetoric – including talk of sending troops to Ukraine – was aimed at boosting his waning popularity at home. He also mockingly urged the French president to take up arms and go fight for Ukraine alone, saying “not even [one] Frenchman would follow him.”
Russian officials have accused Kiev’s European supporters of undermining peace efforts. Presidential aide Yury Ushakov has said EU leaders are complicating Russia-US efforts to reach a settlement by making unacceptable demands, while Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev has warned that some of their interventions amounted to “peace sabotage.”
Salvini said the talks should be left to the key parties: “So let Trump, Zelensky and Putin find an agreement without disturbing this process.”