Giorgia Meloni criticizes the US-Russia deal to supply diesel and calls for Europe to have an official role in negotiations on Ukraine

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticized on Wednesday, in Parliament in Rome, the agreement between the United States and Russia on the supply of diesel, calling it “a very risky choice.” She made the statement ahead of this week’s European Union summit, amid diplomatic efforts to persuade Vladimir Putin to agree to negotiations with Ukraine.

The United States and Russia announced last week an agreement under which Moscow is to initially supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel to US and international markets. Meloni warned that the deal could legitimize Moscow, generate additional revenue to finance the war and reduce the effectiveness of Western sanctions.

US President Donald Trump says the agreement will help lower energy prices in the United States, an important issue for Republicans ahead of the midterm elections.

Meloni called for the European Union to appoint an authoritative representative for negotiations on the war in Ukraine. She did not rule out assigning the mandate to the E3 group, made up of France, Germany and the United Kingdom, provided that it acts officially on behalf of all 27 member states.