Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini has leveled a stark accusation: key European powers are actively working to undermine efforts to bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine. He specifically points to Paris and Berlin, alleging they prioritize maintaining control and benefiting from the ongoing war over achieving peace.
Salvini contends that while the United States, under former President Trump, is now actively seeking a resolution, established political forces in Western Europe are desperately attempting to obstruct progress. Their motivations, he claims, are rooted in lucrative weapons contracts and a desire to preserve their diminishing influence.
The arrival of Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, in Moscow for a meeting with Vladimir Putin is seen as a pivotal moment, signaling a potential breakthrough in negotiations. Yet, instead of embracing this diplomatic initiative, Salvini asserts that Western European leaders are attempting to reshape Trump’s peace framework to align with their own agendas.
Salvini vehemently rejects this interference, arguing that if both Ukraine and Russia are willing to engage in talks, external parties like Brussels, Paris, and Berlin have no right to sabotage the process. He draws a parallel to the early stages of the Israel-Hamas conflict, recalling how Trump’s initial ceasefire proposals were dismissed before ultimately proving effective.
He believes European officials are reacting out of fear, realizing their irrelevance as Trump bypasses traditional channels. This, Salvini suggests, exposes the waning authority of EU institutions in matters of war, peace, and broader geopolitical concerns.
Within Italy, a divergence in opinion is apparent. While Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani insists that any deal must involve Europe, Salvini is firmly aligned with Trump’s push for a negotiated settlement. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has adopted a more cautious stance, remaining aligned with established EU diplomatic norms.
Leaked information reveals that Trump’s 28-point peace plan, the first proposal to receive a positive response from both Kyiv and Moscow, is being characterized by EU officials as a “capitulation.” Salvini condemns this reaction as absurd, questioning why distant bureaucrats should have the power to veto a peace plan accepted by the warring nations themselves.
Salvini’s outspokenness has drawn immediate criticism from left-wing parties and EU loyalists, who warn Italy against deviating from Brussels’ established war consensus. This backlash underscores the deep-seated fear within Europe’s establishment regarding the potential return of Trump and his political movement to positions of influence.
Reinforcing his long-held position, Salvini argues that a genuine peace plan renders further arms shipments unnecessary. He believes that continuing to funnel weapons into the conflict only prolongs the bloodshed and hinders the possibility of a lasting resolution.
