Meloni supports Macron: Europe must talk to Russia about the war.

According to ТСН: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed support for restoring direct dialogue between Europe and the Kremlin. She emphasized that the lack of communication with Russia limits the European Union's influence on the process of ending the war in Ukraine.

At a press conference, Meloni agreed with the opinion of French President Emmanuel Macron, who emphasized the need to restore dialogue with Russia.

"On this matter, I think Macron is right. I believe it is time for Europe to talk to Russia (regarding ending the war — ed.), otherwise our influence will be limited. But the question is who should do this. We must not act chaotically — otherwise we will play into Putin's hands," Meloni said.

Additionally, she acknowledged that discussions about Russia's possible return to the G8 are premature, as it was excluded from this format after the annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Macron's idea for negotiations with Putin

Recall that in December 2025, Macron noted that Europe could resume direct negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin if U.S. peace initiatives to end the war in Ukraine fail. He expressed concern that European leaders are sidelined from discussions about a future agreement between Kyiv and Moscow, stressing that dialogue between Washington and the Kremlin is happening without proper EU involvement.

Russian President spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Putin is ready to "engage in dialogue" with Macron.

In response to the French leader's initiative, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the importance of U.S. involvement as a mediator in the peace process and urged allies to work on maintaining a unified format that includes America and European partners.

This news highlights the increasing emphasis on the need for dialogue between Europe and Russia, occurring against the backdrop of ongoing efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine. Discussions among global leaders, including considerations about returning to old formats of cooperation, could impact the future geopolitical landscape in Europe.