Draghi Has Started Unpicking Decades of Italian Ties to Russia
The Italian prime minister heads to Washington resolutely backing sanctions despite his country’s reliance on Russian energy.
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Less than a week before Russia invaded Ukraine, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi was planning a trip to Moscow and discussing a possible increase in gas supplies with Vladimir Putin. His approach is very different now.
As the 74-year-old former central banker prepares to meet U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House Tuesday, he’s pushing for the European Union to ban Russian oil imports and scrambling to end Italy’s reliance on Russian energy. He’s also backed sending heavy weapons to Ukraine despite resistance from large parts of his ruling coalition and the country’s historically strong ties to Russia.