Meloni urges a 'disorganized' EU to speak with one voice on Ukraine in letter to Costa

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has slammed Europe's engagement with Ukraine peace talks as 'all over the place'. She made the criticism in a letter to European Council President António Costa. The details came from the letter, which was seen by Politico.

In the letter, Meloni said that discussing how the EU can speak with one voice on Ukraine should be added to the agenda of an informal leaders' meeting in Dublin next week. She added that the issue 'can no longer be postponed'.

Meloni pointed out the various formats that have been used to discuss Ukraine. They include meetings in Miami and Oslo, upcoming talks scheduled by the Coalition of the Willing and the European Political Community, plus the phone call that Finland's Alexander Stubb and Norway's Jonas Gahr Støre made to Russia's Vladimir Putin.

In Meloni's view, the multiple forums were 'undermining our credibility in handling one of the most complicated issues our nations are facing'.

The EU has repeatedly insisted it gets a 'seat at the table' at Ukraine peace talks, to safeguard the region's interests and bolster Kyiv's ability to resist a lopsided deal. Yet the bloc has yet to agree on a single leader or institution to spearhead negotiations.

Meloni wrote: 'I'm convinced that we all realize how, by projecting the image of a Europe that's all over the place, we're doing nothing but serving the interests of those who want this war to continue. And I think this is unacceptable, given that human lives and the future of our security are at stake.'

She added: 'Proceeding in a disorganized manner, with initiatives that chase one another and overlap, will not help us — neither with our partners nor with those we must convince to stop this senseless aggression.'

Meloni said in the letter: 'I am not asking for a seat for Italy in this or that format.' Her point, she said, was that Europe speaking with one voice now needed to be discussed.

EU leaders meet in Dublin for an informal European Council on Nov. 13. A meeting of the European Political Community, which involves all EU states plus Ukraine and other allies, takes place the day before.

Some European governments have criticized Alexander Stubb and Jonas Gahr Støre for breaking ranks and calling the Russian leader directly.