Italy is under the spotlight after its new ambassador to Moscow reportedly questioned European Union sanctions on Russia and the effectiveness of the bloc’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, triggering debates across Europe over Rome’s foreign policy.
Some EU partners see Italy’s approach as unusually accommodating toward the Kremlin.
Critics point to the ambassador’s ties to the League — a key party in Italy’s governing coalition often accused of pro-Moscow leanings — as a sign that the administration may be edging closer to Moscow.
The new ambassador, Stefano Beltrame, a career diplomat, presented his credentials to President Vladimir Putin on 15 January, arriving at a fraught moment in EU-Russia relations as Brussels reviews and extends sanctions imposed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
According to Dagospia, an Italian outlet known for publishing political backstories and informal diplomatic leaks, Beltrame expressed in a confidential cable published on an internal platform reserved for diplomats, Italy’s “concerns over new sanctions against Russia”.
He reportedly questioned the EU’s 20th sanctions package — set for approval at the end of February, marking the fourth anniversary of the war — which may include sweeping new restrictions on Russian visas. He apparently described the measures as a “bad idea” and urged policymakers “to set out from now a strategy of containment and rollback”, while warning against isolating Brussels from potential peace talks.
From an economic perspective, he is quoted as writing that “tourism … diverts financial resources away from the Russian economic system and sanctioning it does not harm the Kremlin but only us Europeans”.
He also reportedly warned against restricting travel as a tool of political pressure, arguing: “If Europe wants to counter the regime’s warmongering propaganda in Russia, there is nothing better than a trip to the West to see things with one’s own eyes.
“On the contrary, blocking Russian tourism means indiscriminately striking individuals’ right to travel solely because of their nationality.”
In the same cable, Beltrame reportedly raised broader concerns about the EU’s diplomatic positioning, writing that “while the United States is openly engaging in direct negotiations that, over time, tend toward normalisation with Moscow, the EU would be structurally incapable of dialogue with the Russians and therefore risks being side-lined.”
He added that the Kremlin “does not recognise” Kallas “as an interlocutor and does not appear at all willing to engage with her.” He also reportedly backed the idea of appointing a “special European envoy” for peace negotiations, a figure who could bypass the EU’s top diplomat and provide Brussels with a more “credible” channel for talks with Moscow.
While these details have been widely cited online, they have not been confirmed or denied by official government sources, which instead reaffirm that Italy’s position remains fully aligned with EU policy.
Beltrame’s stance, as portrayed in the reports, is unusual within the EU.
Critics argue that Italy’s apparent departure from the broader EU consensus reflects the growing influence of the League in shaping the country’s foreign policy.
Beltrame brings extensive experience to his post, having served in diplomatic roles across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US, as well as in advisory positions within Italy’s political system.
In 2018 and 2019, he was diplomatic adviser to League leader and then-interior minister Matteo Salvini, who was also deputy prime minister.
He has also advised Luca Zaia, President of the Veneto Region, and Giancarlo Giorgetti, Minister of Economy until Beltrame’s move to Moscow — both senior League figures.
The League has long faced accusations of closeness to Russia, including a previously proposed partnership with United Russia, Putin’s dominant party.
That agreement was abandoned after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, yet critics regularly revive the issue whenever the party takes positions perceived as Kremlin-friendly.
Rome has consistently endorsed EU sanctions and continues to support Ukraine politically, financially and militarily.
Still, some observers see Beltrame’s reported remarks as part of a broader effort by the League and certain elements of the Italian state to carve out a more independent line toward Moscow.
Beltrame’s first weeks in Moscow underscore the challenges facing European diplomats in a highly politicised environment. As sanctions and security debates continue, his role will remain under close scrutiny in Brussels.
