EU has to foot the bill for anti-Russia sanctions – Salvini — Analysis
Anti-Moscow sanctions are justified, but ordinary people should be protected, Italy’s former deputy PM says
The European Union should compensate its citizens for the ‘energy pandemic’ resulting from anti-Russia sanctions over the Ukraine conflict, Italy’s former deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini said on Sunday.
Salvini (right-wing Lega Nord) spoke out to RTL Radio.
“Europe can, like it did during the pandemic and put up a shield for families and businesses and to cover any extra costs families may have to bear.,” he said, adding that Brussels will need to adopt such measures to stave off mass unemployment.
Salvini expressed his support of anti-Russian sanctions, in spite of their efficiency. He noted that his party has endorsed all kinds of support for Ukraine and condemned Russia’s military offensive. But he noted that Moscow has been reaping the benefits of high oil prices and is suffering from Europe’s energy shortage.
“This would be the case where the sanctioned individual makes money, and the person who sanctions suffers.”, he noted, adding that Brussels recognizes that economic warfare is a double-edged sword.
The Italian politician stated that the EU can’t simply lift sanctions because it would mean giving in to Russia.
Salvini, however, urged the EU last week to reconsider its anti-Russian sanctions policy. He claimed that it might be more damaging than Moscow. “If they are working, fine, but if they hit the sanctioning countries more than Russia… they will stoke the war rather than promote peace,” he claimed.
Italy’s general elections will be held on September 25, following the fall of Mario Draghi’s government in July. According to a study released last month by the Cattaneo Institute think tank, Italy’s right-wing bloc, of which Salvini’s Lega Nord is a part, is on track to win a broad majority in both houses of parliament.
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