Meloni urges ‘disorganized’ EU to speak with one voice on Ukraine

ROME — The EU is giving the impression of being “all over the place” when it comes to Ukraine, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told European Council President António Costa.

In a letter seen by POLITICO, Meloni said that discussing how the EU can speak with one voice on Ukraine should be added to the agenda of an informal leaders’ meeting in Dublin next week, adding that the issue “can no longer be postponed.”

Meloni pointed out the various formats that have been used to discuss Ukraine, including meetings in Miami and Oslo, and upcoming talks scheduled by the Coalition of the Willing and the European Political Community, plus the phone call that Finland’s Alexander Stubb and Norway’s Jonas Gahr Støre made to Russia’s Vladimir Putin. She said the multiple forums were “undermining our credibility in handling one of the most complicated issues our nations are facing.”

While the EU has repeatedly insisted it gets a “seat at the table” at Ukraine peace talks, to safeguard the region’s interests and bolster Kyiv’s ability to resist a lopsided deal, the bloc has yet to agree on a single leader or institution to spearhead negotiations.

“I’m convinced that we all realize how, by projecting the image of a Europe that’s all over the place, we’re doing nothing but serving the interests of those who want this war to continue. And I think this is unacceptable, given that human lives and the future of our security are at stake,” the Italian prime minister wrote.

“Proceeding in a disorganized manner, with initiatives that chase one another and overlap, will not help us — neither with our partners nor with those we must convince to
stop this senseless aggression,” she added.

“I am not asking for a seat for Italy in this or that format,” she said.

EU leaders meet in Dublin for an informal European Council on Nov. 13. A meeting of the European Political Community, which involves all EU states plus Ukraine and other allies, takes place the day before.