Where is Italy from the crisis in Ukraine

In the hours when Russia decided to recognize the separatist republics in eastern Ukraine and send soldiers and military vehicles to its territory, half of Europe condemned what was happening, even with rather harsh words. The heads of the three main EU institutions have announce Reactions “resolute and resolute”, French President Emmanuel Macron wish The new sanctions and, more generally, almost all European governments expressed varying degrees of indignation. Instead, Italy chose a different stance, perhaps reflecting the wisdom with which it manages the tensions prevailing these days.

A few hours after Russia’s recognition, Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio published Short and careful statement On the ministry’s website, it did not mention any penalties. Prime Minister Mario Draghi only commented on the situation late Tuesday morning, with a meager press release sent to reporters. As the sources of the presidency of the Council told Corriere della Sera That despite the escalation, contacts are continuing with the Russian government to organize a meeting between Draghi and Russian President Vladimir Putin soon.

The wisdom of Italy in recent days has been widely noted. Several European observers have commented on Draghi’s wish, just hours before the situation deteriorated in Donbass, that any sanctions against Russia do not affect gas supplies. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen He has distanced himself From Draghi’s statements during a television interview with CNBC. Monday The Wall Street Journal published Unsigned editorial on “cracks in the western alignment” accompanied by a photo of Draghi.

Many explain the wisdom of the Italian government with its well-known dependence on natural gas supplies from Russia for its energy needs. According to data from the Ministry of Environmental Transformation, in 2020, 43.3 percent of natural gas was imported from Italy He was from Russia, which is by far the largest supplier of gas in the country. A recent ISPI estimate indicates that Italy will be one of the most vulnerable European countries to the prospect of disruption to natural gas supplies from Russia.

??????????????? Italy was to send an unofficial document to the European Commission to exclude energy from possible sanctions in Moscow.

It’s not the only one.

As expected, the 10 EU countries that share the Italian position are the most “dependent” on Russian gas.#UkraineRussia pic.twitter.com/jRIkrw8Z6h

– Matthew Villa (@emmevilla) February 20 2022

Italy has long played the role of political mediator between the countries of Western and Northern Europe and Russia, and there are deep-rooted and important relations between the companies of the two countries. Even in the recent past, Italian governments have often proven reluctant to maintain an extremely hostile approach to Russia. In 2014, shortly after Russia’s invasion of Crimea, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi asserted that his government was working to “keep a strong channel of dialogue open” with Russia. Four years later, Giuseppe Conte argued that European sanctions against Russia, approved specifically for the invasion of Crimea, were ‘Tool to beat’and more generally Russia He had to be readmitted to the G8.

Moreover, many of the parties that support the Draghi government have a history of rapprochement with or fascination with Putin’s Russia: the League owns it, especially Minister Matteo Salvini and his closest associates; The 5-Star movement has been enjoying it for many years, and in part Forza Italia, whose leader Silvio Berlusconi is a personal friend of Putin. Perhaps for these reasons, too, it is difficult to expect a clearer position from Draghi and his government on issues related to Russia and Ukraine.

This resistance will not prevent Italy from agreeing with its main allies and agreeing to new European sanctions, which are likely to be decided on Tuesday evening. A veto by the Draghi government, which explicitly mentioned the sanctions in its Tuesday morning statement, seems inconceivable at the moment.