Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced on Friday (January 9, 2026) that Europe must enter into direct talks with Russia without delay regarding the Ukraine crisis.
In statements released by the Italian Prime Minister’s Office, Meloni emphasized that Europe cannot continue with military support and sanctions at this stage, but must open the way to dialogue with Moscow.
He also suggested that the European Union appoint a High Representative/Special Envoy for the Resolution of the Ukrainian Crisis to guide and coordinate the negotiation process.
The Italian Prime Minister considered one of the main reasons for the prolonged crisis to be “the existence of very different opinions among EU member states,” adding that these differences of opinion have prevented the adoption of a unified and effective approach.
So far, no official response from Brussels, Kiev, or Moscow to this proposal has been published.
