Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini has stated that European leaders are hindering efforts to reach a peace deal in Ukraine due to domestic pressures. According to Salvini, who is also the minister of infrastructure and transport, leaders facing trouble at home are shifting their problems onto the international stage. He specifically mentioned French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer as examples.

Salvini expressed his concerns over the weekend, saying that the European Union had been absent from earlier talks and was now working against the peace process. He emphasized that Italy was not a party to the conflict and reiterated his opposition to deploying Italian troops to Ukraine. Salvini also stressed the importance of dialogue, particularly when dealing with a nuclear-armed power like Russia, which possesses approximately 6,000 nuclear warheads.

The Italian deputy prime minister has been critical of European leaders, particularly Macron, for their approach to the Ukraine conflict. He has accused Macron of trying to drag the EU into a war with Russia and has praised US President Donald Trump for his peace mediation efforts. Salvini has also called for the key parties involved, including Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, to be left to find an agreement without external interference.

Russian officials have also accused Kiev’s European supporters of undermining peace efforts. Presidential aide Yury Ushakov has stated that EU leaders are complicating Russia-US efforts to reach a settlement by making unacceptable demands. Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev has warned that some of their interventions amount to “peace sabotage.”

The comments from Salvini and Russian officials highlight the challenges in reaching a peace deal in Ukraine. The conflict has been ongoing for several years, resulting in significant humanitarian and economic costs. The international community continues to call for a peaceful resolution, with various leaders and organizations attempting to facilitate dialogue and negotiations. As the situation remains volatile, the need for effective diplomacy and cooperation among key parties is increasingly important.