ROME — Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday aligned with French President Emmanuel Macron on the need for the EU talks with Russia directly if current U.S.-led peace efforts over the war in Ukraine fail to produce a lasting agreement.
Speaking at her annual press conference with the national guild of journalists, Meloni said she agreed with Macron’s view that Europe must be prepared to speak directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin as part of any comprehensive peace process.
“I think Macron is right,” Meloni said, referring to recent comments by the French president about the need for European diplomatic engagement with Moscow. “I believe the time has come for the EU to talk to Russia. If Europe decides to talk to only one of the two sides on the field, I fear that the contribution it can make will be limited.”
Meloni stressed that coordination is crucial, warning that uncoordinated or fragmented approaches could inadvertently benefit the Kremlin. “If we were to make the mistake of reopening talks with Russia and proceeding in an uncoordinated manner, we would be doing Putin a favour,” she said. “The last thing I want to do in life is a favour to Putin.”
She also reiterated her support for giving the EU a special envoy for Ukraine, tasked with leading unified European diplomatic efforts should talks with Moscow resume.
Macron’s Position on Direct Dialogue
Macron has consistently argued that Europe will need to find a framework for direct engagement with Russia if U.S.-brokered negotiations falter. In late December, he told reporters that either a durable peace is achieved under current negotiations or Europeans must seek ways to resume direct dialogue with Putin in a transparent manner that includes Ukraine.
The French president’s comments followed an EU decision to approve significant joint funding for Ukraine, which he described as a step forward in European solidarity. Macron said working toward direct communication with Moscow could become “useful again” in the coming weeks, provided it sheltered the interests of both the EU and Ukraine.
Macron’s office has indicated that, while direct discussions remain a possibility in future weeks, there are no current plans for face-to-face talks between Macron and Putin amid ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Diplomatic Context
The notion of Europe re-engaging with Russia comes at a time when Ukraine peace negotiations, backed by the United States, have made limited progress. Moscow has shown little willingness to accept concessions or comprehensive Western security guarantees.
Meloni and Macron’s positions reflect growing debate within the EU on how best to balance continued support for Ukraine with the realities of stalled peace talks. Meloni has affirmed Italy’s support for Ukraine while rejecting proposals to send Italian troops to the conflict zone.
France, for its part, remains a leading advocate of sustained European engagement on both diplomatic and security fronts, though its proposals — including possible direct contact with Moscow — have sometimes drawn mixed reactions from other EU capitals.
