Finance
Economic Pressure on Russia Key for Peace, Italy's Meloni Says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 14, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 14, 2026
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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reaffirmed that economic pressure on Russia remains Europe’s most effective tool to push for peace, amid debate over easing gas import bans as energy markets reel from Middle East tensions and looming EU restrictions on Russian LNG.
Meloni: Economic Pressure on Russia Essential to Achieve Peace Amid Energy Crisis
Italy and Europe Face Energy Challenges Amid Russia-Ukraine Conflict
By Angelo Amante and Giuseppe Fonte
Meloni’s Stance on Economic Sanctions Against Russia
ROME, April 14 (Reuters) - Economic pressure on Russia remains "the most effective weapon" to pressure it to end its conflict with Ukraine, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Tuesday, when asked whether Europe should ease its ban on Moscow's gas imports.
Context: EU Gas Import Ban and Energy Supply Concerns
Meloni spoke on the sidelines of a wine fair after the head of energy group Eni said that the EU restriction should be reconsidered as the bloc grapples with the fallout of the Iran conflict on energy supplies.
Impact of Iran Conflict on European Energy Security
Energy worries have mounted in Italy and across Europe after the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that normally carries about a fifth of global LNG supplies, to most shipping.
"The economic pressure that we have exerted on Russia over these years is the most effective weapon to help build peace, and therefore we must be very careful about how we move forward," Meloni told reporters.
Upcoming Restrictions and Political Responses
Moscow faces a ban on imports of liquefied natural gas on short-term contracts from April 25 and on long-term contracts from January 1, 2027. Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi said it was unclear how to replace 20 billion cubic metres of Russian LNG.
Diplomatic Efforts and Internal Political Debate
Speaking in the northern Italian city of Verona, Meloni, who is due to meet President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Rome on Wednesday, said she hoped progress towards peace could be made before the ban takes effect.
Her ally, the far-right League party, which has often expressed pro-Russia views, is also urging her to reopen supplies from Moscow.
Proposals to Address Energy Prices
Party leader Matteo Salvini said on Tuesday he had discussed with Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti an unspecified plan to freeze energy prices at levels seen before the Iran war broke out on February 28, but did not provide details on the potentially costly move.
(Reporting by Angelo Amante and Giuseppe Fonte; Editing by Janane Venkatraman)
Key Takeaways
- •Meloni emphasized that sustained economic sanctions against Russia are vital to encourage cessation of its aggression in Ukraine, rejecting calls to lift EU bans on Russian energy despite energy supply concerns.
- •EU legislation will ban Russian LNG imports from short‑term contracts starting April 25 2026 and from long‑term contracts by January 1 2027, creating urgency around securing alternative energy sources (consilium.europa.eu).
- •The closure of the Strait of Hormuz—disrupting up to a fifth of global LNG and oil flows—has intensified energy insecurity and spurred soaring prices, underscoring EU worries and reinforcing calls for energy diversification (lemonde.fr).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Economic pressure on Russia key for peace, Italy's Meloni says
1What is Italy's stance on economic pressure against Russia?
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni believes economic pressure remains the most effective tool to encourage Russia towards peace.
2Why are there calls to reconsider the EU gas import ban from Russia?
Due to energy disruptions following the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, some officials urge reconsidering the ban to help secure Europe's energy supply.
3When will the EU ban on Russian LNG imports start?
The ban on short-term contracts begins April 25, with long-term contracts banned starting January 1, 2027.
4How does the closure of the Strait of Hormuz impact Europe’s energy?
It restricts shipping routes crucial for global LNG supplies, aggravating energy concerns in Italy and the EU.
5What action is being considered to counter rising energy prices in Italy?
Italian leaders have discussed freezing energy prices at pre-Iran conflict levels, though no details have been specified.