Salvini meets Italian businesspeople working in Russia

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Matteo Salvini met today in Milan with a delegation of Italian businesspeople operating in Russia, accompanied by the president of Gim Unimpresa, Vittorio Torrembini, who organised the event, as promised during the first video conference last July with the association’s general assembly in Moscow, which was attended by 150 businesspeople. This was announced by the Lega in a statement, emphasising that the meeting had been requested in order to “hear first-hand the needs and difficulties that hundreds of Italian businesses are facing as a result of the conflict and its economic consequences. In fact, there are still over 300 Italian businesses operating in Russia, accounting for trade worth around 8 billion (compared with 30 billion in 2013)”, the statement continues. During the meeting, Salvini reiterated his hope that the war might end as soon as possible, “with a resumption of direct dialogue between Ukraine and Russia, as well as the utmost commitment to protecting Italian businesses and the jobs they provide, in the name of the national interest”. In this regard, as highlighted by several business leaders who spoke at the meeting, “any ban on tourist visas for Italy and Europe, as called for by some European capitals, would be yet another punitive measure against citizens who have nothing to do with the war – the statement continues – as well as further damage to the Italian economy”.

“We must defend Italy’s interests and avoid problems,” Salvini said this morning whilst appearing on Giornale Radio, announcing that a few hours later he would be meeting with a number of Italian businesspeople who have companies in Russia.  “We have always defended the country that has come under attack in recent years, but we firmly believe that we must work towards peace rather than continuing the war. We must emphasise the issue of peace,” he added, “I hope that Putin and Zelensky will meet as soon as possible; what is certain is that some in Europe have an interest in the war continuing so that they can sell the weapons produced in factories that no longer manufacture cars because of the Green Deal.”