Speaking at a conference of political leaders on Sunday in Lake Como, Salvini claimed that sanctions intended to punish Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine actually helped Russia, resulting in an export surplus of $140 billion over the year which ended in July 2022. “Should we defend Ukraine? Yes,” Salvini said. “But I wouldn’t want the sanctions to hurt those who impose them more than those who are affected by them.” Salvini’s comments come just weeks before Italians go to the polls on September 25 in a national election expected to be won by a right-wing coalition that includes the League. His comments could therefore raise concerns about the future government’s resolve against Russia among other EU policies, especially given that one of Salvini’s coalition allies, Brothers of Italy leader Giorgia Meloni, has vowed to stand firm to NATO in tough measures against Moscow.
Salvini said the League had supported measures to help Ukraine both nationally and at the EU level and would not break with Western allies if they continued to impose sanctions, but also called on other leaders to reconsider their tactics. . “If we enter the government, will we change alliances? No. We remain deeply, proudly and firmly rooted in a free and democratic West opposed to war and aggression,” Salvini said. “But if we adopt a means to hurt the aggressor and after seven months of war he has not been hurt, in the To I think at least one change seems legitimate to me.” He argued that a European response was needed to calm energy prices or thousands of jobs could be lost. “We definitely need a European shield, like during COVID,” Salvini said.
The League leader has made similar comments in recent days, raising doubts about the sanctions, with critics saying he echoes a popular talking point used by the Russian government. Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio from the rival Together for the Future party argued that Salvini was opposing sanctions to “make [Vladimir] Putin is a favor,” and said his comments showed that Salvini and his allies are divided on the issue. “The issue of sanctions is very clear on the Italian right: They have no line,” Di Maio told Rai TV Mezz’Ora in Pio on Sunday. Enrico Letta, the leader of the center-left Democratic Party, also accused Salvini on Twitter on Saturday of doing Putin’s job, referring to a video of Salvini arguing that sanctions are hitting Italy harder than Russia.
“I don’t think Putin could have said it better,” Leta said.