Italy says new sanctions needed to push Putin into peace talks

Italy's foreign minister informed the upper house of parliament on Thursday, that additional sanctions were necessary to exert pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to engage in negotiations aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine.

The U.S. and European Union said they are working to align their efforts, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stating on Wednesday that the EU is considering an accelerated phase-out of Russian fossil fuels as part of new sanctions.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told the Senate, "We must increase pressure on Putin to bring him to the negotiating table. This requires using every available tool to disrupt the financing of his war effort, including new sanctions."

Tajani, who is also a deputy prime minister in Giorgia Meloni's government, emphasised that the EU was working on a 19th sanctions package, which would significantly affect financial flows.

The EU is expected to source about 13% of its gas from Russia this year but is negotiating legal measures to halt Russian oil and gas imports by 1 January, 2028.

Tensions between Russia and the West have escalated since Poland reported shooting down suspected Russian drones in its airspace with support from NATO aircraft.

Tajani also reiterated Italy's proposal to extend NATO's collective defence umbrella to Ukraine, without granting it full membership, in order to provide security guarantees should a peace agreement be reached.

"The starting point is to define a collective security clause that would allow Ukraine to benefit from the support of all its partners, including the United States, if it is attacked again," Tajani said.

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