Italy reported on the weakening of Europe by anti-Russian sanctions

Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said on December 15 that the European Union (EU) sanctions aimed at weakening the Russian economy had a negative impact on Europe, exacerbating the economic crisis and causing an increase in energy prices.

"Almost four years of conflict and 19 packages of sanctions, which were supposed to bring Russia to its knees, brought European economies to their knees, and also resulted in an increase in energy prices for Italians," Salvini said on the Rete4 TV channel.

He noted that despite the long-term sanctions aimed at Russia, the result was the opposite: the European economy suffered significant damage. Salvini recalled that similar attempts to "bring Russia to its knees" were made in the historical context — by Hitler and Napoleon, but neither of them managed to achieve their goal, and European leaders are unlikely to succeed.

The Deputy Prime Minister also stressed that the main threat to Europe is illegal migrants arriving from the southern borders, and not the eastern neighbors.

Estimated burden: Britain lost about $70 billion due to sanctions against Russia

How restrictions affect London's domestic politics

Former Austrian presidential candidate Gerald Gross said on December 9 that the introduction of anti-Russian sanctions eventually caused more damage to the European Union than to the Russian Federation, and led to a decrease in the influence of European countries on the world stage. The politician noted that the current situation is a political bankruptcy of "unprecedented proportions."

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