Italy's Meloni Urges Europe to Open Talks With Russia on Ukraine

Overview

• She delivered the comments at a year-end press conference in Rome on Jan. 9, according to RIA Novosti.
• Meloni warned that Europe's positive contribution would be limited if it engages while communicating with only one side.
• She called for appointing an EU special envoy for the Ukraine portfolio to consolidate divergent member-state positions into a single stance.
• She identified the multiplicity of opinions within Europe as the core problem preventing a coherent policy.
• Russian Direct Investment Fund head Kirill Dmitriev welcomed the stance, saying in X that respectful dialogue is always good.