«We remain in coordination with individual member countries on their possible bilateral contacts» with Russia «for a just and lasting peace» and «we welcome efforts for peace». A spokesperson for the European Commission said this regarding the possibility of talks between Emmanuel Macron and Vladimir Putin.
«Let us not speculate on who could ever represent the EU in future, hypothetical, peace efforts. The path to peace is not linear, any effort to achieve lasting peace is welcome”, underlined the spokesperson in response to those who asked him if the EU is preparing to choose who will represent it in possible talks with the Kremlin.
Sanctions against Moscow renewed until 2026
The EU Council gives the green light to the six-monthly renewal of economic sanctions against Russia. The new deadline for the measures is 31 July 2026. The package includes a broad spectrum of sectoral economic restrictions.
It also includes a ban on the import or transfer of seaborne oil and certain petroleum products from Russia to the EU, the exclusion of several Russian banks from the Swift system, and the suspension of broadcasting activities and licenses in the EU of several Kremlin-backed disinformation outlets.
«It is certainly good to reopen a communication channel, but the channel must be European: it cannot be just from a single country. The important thing is that Putin returns to talk to the whole of Europe.” Thus Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, in an interview with Resto del Carlino, commenting on Putin’s openness to a possible meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron by Moscow.
Maneuver and majority: “Physiological fibrillations”
Speaking about the Maneuver, Tajani said that «what happened in recent days is absolutely physiological. There is no maneuver that has not seen fibrillations and controversies even among the majority. In this specific case, there was some misunderstanding in the League, but everything was resolved with minimal delay.”
The role of Forza Italia and the economic measures
As leader of Forza Italia, Tajani claims the role of his party for having avoided “new taxes on housing, preventing the increase in the rate for short-term rentals”. Then, he added, «we also intervened to give a signal to the police. We managed to avoid any harassment of companies with the new taxation on dividends, not only for large ones but also for small ones.”
International credibility and support for Ukraine
“Exiting the infringement procedure – he added – means guaranteeing the country a credibility that favors investments and growth”. For this reason the minister said he hoped that the goal will be “reached soon”. Finally, on the decree for support for Kiev, Tajani said that “it will be approved”. “I – he concluded – hope that it will no longer be necessary to send any armaments if peace is achieved. But, if necessary, there will also be shipments of military materials. And it seems to me that the League has not pulled back in votes.”