Advertisement

In Moscow, Italy's Matteo Salvini calls Russia sanctions 'madness'

AFP
AFP - [email protected]
In Moscow, Italy's Matteo Salvini calls Russia sanctions 'madness'
Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini speaking in Moscow. Photo: Mladen Antonov/AFP

Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Salvini denounced the "madness" of western sanctions against Russia during a trip to Moscow on Wednesday, and launched a fierce attack on the European Union.

Advertisement

"I come here because I am convinced that sanctions are economic, social and cultural madness," said Salvini, who leads the hard-right League party and also serves as deputy prime minister.

His comments got a warm reception from his audience, a gathering of the Russo-Italian business community, and several Russian and Italian businessmen took the microphone to press the minister to get the sanctions lifted.

Ideally, Salvini told them, they would be busy running their businesses and he would be discussing anti-terrorism, cybersecurity and other issues with his Russian counterpart.

READ ALSO: 

Instead, the European Union was financing and courting Turkey, "... a country that has had a European country under military occupation for 44 years" while imposing sanctions against Russia for its 2014 annexation of Crimea, he said.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops occupied its northern third in response to an Athens-sponsored military coup seeking to unite the Mediterranean island with Greece.

Salvini also defended Italy against EU criticism of its high-spending budget. Brussels is concerned that Italy's budget will increase the country's deficit. At 130 percent of annual economic output, Italy's debt is well above the EU's 60 percent ceiling.

During a visit to Moscow in July, Salvini said he wanted to end sanctions against Russia by the end of the year.

During Wednesday's visit Salvini was received by Russia's deputy foreign minister, Alexander Grushko.

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte is due in Moscow next Wednesday for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev. 

READ ALSO: Why is Italy resisting EU sanctions against Russia over cyberattacks?


Photo: Olivier Morin/AFP

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also