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The Italian Prime Minister demands that a party be identified to represent the European Union in talks to end the Russian-Ukrainian war
Quick Look
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticized the lack of European coordination in the Ukraine negotiations, demanding that an official European Union representative be identified to avoid conflicting initiatives, in a letter she addressed to European Council President Antonio Costa.
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Why It Matters
There are many individual and collective European diplomatic initiatives regarding the war in Ukraine, which has led to criticism about the fragmentation of the European position.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticized, on Thursday, what she described as European "fumble" in the negotiations related to Ukraine, demanding that the bloc clarify who is speaking on its behalf.
In this letter, which she addressed to the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, Meloni expressed, according to Agence France-Presse, her dissatisfaction with several meetings held in different formats, as part of the efforts aimed at ending the Russian war in Ukraine.
“All of this suggests that we are people who completely lack credibility in managing a file that is one of the most complex files facing our countries,” she wrote.
She added, "I am certain that we all realize that making Europe appear to be moving in an uncoordinated manner only serves the interests of those who want this war to continue."
In this context, she referred to discussions that recently took place in Miami and Oslo, as well as in Brussels this week between representatives of Ukraine, the European Union, NATO and a number of European countries, including France, Germany and Britain.
It also touched on the phone call that took place last month between the Norwegian President, the Prime Minister of Finland, and the Russian President. She continued, "I want to clearly confirm that I will not accept this dynamic, and I do not intend to stand idly by regarding these matters."
Meloni also said, “Moving forward in a state of confusion, with initiatives that follow one another and overlap with each other, will not help us in our dealings with our partners, nor with those whom we need to convince to put an end to this senseless aggression.”
Meloni called on European Union leaders to decide “for once and for the last time who will sit at the negotiating table on behalf of the European Union, and what powers are granted to him,” stressing that she is not asking for anything for herself or her country.
She expressed her desire to include this issue on the agenda of an informal meeting of European Union heads of state and government to be held next week in Dublin, in preparation for taking an official decision on it during the next European summit in December.
She continued, "Without that, I fear that we will risk leaving Europe without any significant influence on the course of the negotiations."
Earlier this year, Meloni called for the appointment of a special European Union envoy for these negotiations, but her proposal did not receive much response from the EU member states.
In a letter he sent to Meloni, Costa expressed his agreement with her that “Europe needs to act with harmony, unity and determination.”
“The European Union’s participation should be organized in a way that allows it to deliver a clear and unified message, defend its interests, and support Ukraine,” he said in his letter published by his office.
The President of the European Council added that, according to the bloc’s treaties, “the interests of the European Union must be represented through its institutions.”
Costa pledged to raise this issue at the next meeting of European Union leaders.
Europe has long sought to play a more active role in negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Raise the issue of European representation at the upcoming EU leaders' meeting in Dublin.
Very likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Will a special EU envoy be appointed?
- How will positions be coordinated at the Dublin Summit?







