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Matteo Salvini, Italy's deputy prime minister and minister of infrastructure and transport, believes trade ties with Russia should be maintained and that Italian companies continuing to operate there should be supported. He said this in an interview with Sole 24 Ore, RBC reports.

According to Salvini, about 350 Italian companies currently operate in Russia. He proposed setting up a channel through which their problems — including those related to payments and logistics — could be raised. "I can help create a feedback channel to bring our companies' specific problems to attention, from payments to logistics," he said.

Salvini also suggested Italy could resist pressure from some countries to block the issuance of visas to Russians.

At the same time, the politician does not consider it advisable to lift sanctions against Russia. He said his party's priority was ending the conflict in Ukraine, after which, in his view, full relations with Moscow ought to be restored. "What concerns me is that some believe there should be no relations with Russia at all, even once the war is over. That would be a huge mistake. It is in our interest, once there is a ceasefire, to return to full relations with Moscow," Italy's deputy prime minister said.

Salvini leads the League party, part of the ruling coalition alongside Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy and Forza Italia. According to Bloomberg, of the three parties, the League holds the most Russia-friendly position.

Salvini has previously said that maintaining and guarding frozen Russian assets costs Italy millions of euros. He said that any decision on freezing, and possibly seizing, Russian assets must take into account the risks to Italy.

The Italian deputy prime minister has also spoken in favor of resuming purchases of Russian gas once the conflict in Ukraine ends, and of restoring economic and cultural ties with Russia.