Russia Accused of Using Migrants to Destabilize Europe, Warns Italian PM Meloni

[Social Media]

 

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has accused Russia of deliberately orchestrating illegal migration to destabilize Europe, calling for a more robust defense of the EU’s external borders. Speaking at a North-South security summit with leaders from Greece, Sweden, and Finland, Meloni emphasized the gravity of the threat, stating, “We have to understand the threat is much wider than we imagine.”  

 

"We will not allow Russia to undermine our security" – PM Meloni

"We will not allow Russia to undermine our security" – PM Meloni

Kaja Kallas 🇪🇺 brought Nordic and Southern states to Finland to discuss further European integration and security pic.twitter.com/JiweyxpaMH

— Mariska den Eelden 🇪🇺🇳🇱 (@eeldenden) December 22, 2024

 

Meloni, who leads a conservative coalition government, stressed the need to protect Europe’s borders from both Russia and criminal organizations. “We want to defend external borders, and we don’t want to allow Russia or criminal organizations to undermine our security,” she said. Her remarks follow claims by some EU member states, including Finland and Estonia, that Russia has facilitated illegal migration from the Middle East and other regions into Europe. Russia has also been accused of using proxies in Africa to encourage migration across the Mediterranean.  

 

While Moscow denies these allegations, Finland, which shares an 830-mile border with Russia, faces significant challenges in monitoring its land border, just as Italy and Greece contend with maritime threats. At the summit in Lapland, Meloni underscored the need for tailored strategies to address these varied challenges. “What we understood in this meeting is our borders are very different, so they need different tools. What happens here in Finland, where a fence is useful, cannot be done in the Mediterranean,” she explained.  

 

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo echoed these concerns, describing the border threats as “an existential question” for EU members and NATO allies. He emphasized the importance of protecting not only national borders but also those of the European Union as a whole.  

 

Meloni also highlighted the broader security issues Europe faces, including artificial intelligence, cyber security, critical infrastructure, and supply chains. Migration, she noted, remains a particularly pressing issue requiring a unified yet geographically specific approach. She revealed ongoing efforts with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to collaborate with African nations to combat illegal migration.  

 

Addressing past EU migration policies, Meloni criticized the bloc’s focus on solidarity-based solutions, stating, “Tackling the issue of illegal immigration solely as a solidarity-based debate was a mistake. The result is that we have been unable to protect our borders.” Despite initial challenges with Italy’s use of processing centers in Albania, she reaffirmed her belief in involving third countries outside the EU to manage asylum requests.  

 

Meanwhile, Italy’s internal politics on migration remain contentious. Last week, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, leader of the far-right League party, was acquitted of kidnapping charges over his decision to block a migrant boat at sea in 2019. The verdict, following a three-year trial, rejected prosecutors’ calls for a six-year prison sentence. This acquittal came amid ongoing tensions between the Italian government and judiciary over migration policies, including plans to send asylum seekers to Albania, which some courts have questioned.  

 

As Europe grapples with growing migration pressures, Meloni’s warnings signal a call for coordinated action and reevaluation of border security strategies.

 

Based on a report by Daily Telegraph 2024-12-24

 

 

 

[AndreasHG]

Kudos to Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the first female prime minister of the southern European country, for her candor and clarity in denouncing Putin, for using immigration as a weapon against Europe. 

 

Unable to compete with the West in creating wealth and raising the standard of living of its citizens, Russia focuses on what it does best: hindering the development of its neighbors, terrified by the prospect of being left behind and ending up in the waste bin of history.

 

[frank83628]

Russia Russia Russia, yawn. No evidemce,  just nonsense to  continue the feas of the "bogeyman"

[Bkk Brian]

18 minutes ago, frank83628 said:

Russia Russia Russia, yawn. No evidemce,  just nonsense to  continue the feas of the "bogeyman"

Plenty of evidence that your Russian terrorist mates are doing this..............

 

source

[frank83628]

Your source is CNN, the outlet tha just got exposed pushing a fake prisoner rescue in syria just a week ago🤣 

[Hakuna Matata]

5 hours ago, Social Media said:

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has accused Russia of deliberately orchestrating illegal migration to destabilize Europe,

 

Oh, what a BS! 

 

90% of migrants are arriving in Europe over the Mediterranean, another 9% - over the Balkans. Only 1% using Russia or Belarus as an entry point to EU.

[jippytum]

1 hour ago, frank83628 said:

Russia Russia Russia, yawn. No evidemce,  just nonsense to  continue the feas of the "bogeyman"

Plenty of evidence to prove Russia is  a threat to most countries outside the Communist block. 

You can observe the Russian arragance displayed by Putin in many of its citizens residing in Thailand. 

[john donson]

now who went to destabilize the whole african continent and removing the dictators that had some kind of  control on the outflow or unwanted that now flood europe ?

 

at least the US has some kind of 'christian' economical refugees

[frank83628]

30 minutes ago, jippytum said:

Plenty of evidence to prove Russia is  a threat to most countries outside the Communist block. 

You can observe the Russian arragance displayed by Putin in many of its citizens residing in Thailand. 

the Yanks also have a reputation of being loud and obnoxious, There are <deleted> in every nationailty.

[Bkk Brian]

1 hour ago, frank83628 said:

Your source is CNN, the outlet tha just got exposed pushing a fake prisoner rescue in syria just a week ago🤣 

Trying to ignore facts again

 

Migrant crisis deepens as Poland blames Russia for thousands on its border - BBC News

 

[Bkk Brian]

15 minutes ago, frank83628 said:

the Yanks also have a reputation of being loud and obnoxious, There are <deleted> in every nationailty.

Says a Russian supporter who has a swear word deleted............oh the irony. Get back to the vodka Vlad

[Watawattana]

52 minutes ago, Hakuna Matata said:

Oh, what a BS! 

 

90% of migrants are arriving in Europe over the Mediterranean, another 9% - over the Balkans. Only 1% using Russia or Belarus as an entry point to EU.

Not going dispute your figures as I've seen no evidence either way, but wanted to look at this another way.

 

If a country is destabilising, or is encouraging/supporting the destabilisation of, another country so much that its citizens feel the need to flee (for safety or economic reasons), and those citizens travel over the Med to Europe, then surely that country is culpable for that illegal or legal migration for asylum purposes?

 

I knew some Afghans where I used to live.  They blamed Russia and the Taliban for leaving.  And also the USA for originally supporting the Taliban in its resistance against Russia (https://af.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/history-of-the-u-s-and-afghanistan/).

 

Or to look another way, if a country is attractive to economic migrants because it's seen as a really soft touch (e.g. the UK, Canada or Germany), then surely those countries are also culpable of destabilising the countries where the migrants come from?  Oh, and ditto the USA when in comes to central American migrants.

 

 

[Yagoda]

2 hours ago, frank83628 said:

Russia Russia Russia, yawn. No evidemce,  just nonsense to  continue the feas of the "bogeyman"

Russia is a third world country with nukes, cannon fodder for an Army, no air force or Navy, AD systems that cant defeat modern planes, no tanks, worthless currency, no industrial base and a shrinking population.

 

They have nothing to back up their annoyances.

[Watawattana]

I saw reports that Trump has threatened 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico.  From memory it's to "encourage" those states (oops, better be careful not to repeat Trump's faux pas / hint about Canada being the USA's 51st state) to secure their borders better, and to stop simply passing through illegal migrants to the USA.

 

Well, it seems to have help the Canadian Government take action - https://www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/news/2024/12/the-government-of-canadas-border-plan-significant-investments-to-strengthen-border-security-and-our-immigration-system.html

 

Not researched the effect on Mexico.

 

Maybe the EU can consider?  Or perhaps the UK can look at tariffs on the EU as some EU countries (especially France) are simply passing on the migrants to the UK via that deadly sea crossing?  Maybe won't happen as the UK cannot afford to do that?  Maybe the UK needs more migration, especially the trades people needed to build all the new homes that Starmer promised?   Oh wait, we used to have those people, and then Brexit happened...

[JonnyF]

While I have no doubt Russia would love to do this, it requires the facilitation by Western Liberals and progressives in order to allow their plan to succeed. 

 

As long as we have the internal threat of #bekind leftists and their Woke mind virus promoting open borders and mass immigration, Russia can just sit back and laugh at us as we allow our countries to be ruined, facilitated by our very own politicians. 

 

 

 

[frank83628]

11 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Says a Russian supporter who has a swear word deleted............oh the irony. Get back to the vodka Vlad

The deleted word was 'Ahole' which I most common used by Americans.

 

[Bkk Brian]

Just now, frank83628 said:

The deleted word was 'Ahole' which I most common used by Americans.

 

Trying to justify your irony Vlad......

 

Back to more facts:

 

Russia, Belarus using migration as political weapons
Russia and Belarus have been accused of using migrants to disrupt EU unity. According to the European Commission, over 90% of migrants crossing illegally from Belarus to Poland hold Russian student or tourist visas.

Reports claimed that Belarusian authorities provided tools like ladders to help migrants breach border barriers. In 2024, this tactic intensified, with irregular crossings at the EU-Belarus border rising by 66% compared to 2023.

https://etias.com/articles/eu-border-measures-target-migrant-weaponization-by-russia,-belarus

[frank83628]

8 minutes ago, Watawattana said:

I saw reports that Trump has threatened 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico.  From memory it's to "encourage" those states (oops, better be careful not to repeat Trump's faux pas / hint about Canada being the USA's 51st state) to secure their borders better, and to stop simply passing through illegal migrants to the USA.

 

Well, it seems to have help the Canadian Government take action - https://www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/news/2024/12/the-government-of-canadas-border-plan-significant-investments-to-strengthen-border-security-and-our-immigration-system.html

 

Not researched the effect on Mexico.

 

Maybe the EU can consider?  Or perhaps the UK can look at tariffs on the EU as some EU countries (especially France) are simply passing on the migrants to the UK via that deadly sea crossing?  Maybe won't happen as the UK cannot afford to do that?  Maybe the UK needs more migration, especially the trades people needed to build all the new homes that Starmer promised?   Oh wait, we used to have those people, and then Brexit happened...

The UK government doesn't have any back bone, just weak leadership, the only thing they are good at is jumping to whatever height the US tell them to.

[frank83628]

4 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Trying to justify your irony Vlad......

 

Back to more facts:

 

Russia, Belarus using migration as political weapons
Russia and Belarus have been accused of using migrants to disrupt EU unity. According to the European Commission, over 90% of migrants crossing illegally from Belarus to Poland hold Russian student or tourist visas.

Reports claimed that Belarusian authorities provided tools like ladders to help migrants breach border barriers. In 2024, this tactic intensified, with irregular crossings at the EU-Belarus border rising by 66% compared to 2023.

https://etias.com/articles/eu-border-measures-target-migrant-weaponization-by-russia,-belarus

the exact same article nearly word for word to the CNN one, its like the media are all reading from the same script!🤔

[Watawattana]

1 minute ago, frank83628 said:

The UK government doesn't have any back bone, just weak leadership, the only thing they are good at is jumping to whatever height the US tell them to.

Yeah, no disagreement from me.

[Bkk Brian]

6 minutes ago, frank83628 said:

the exact same article nearly word for word to the CNN one, its like the media are all reading from the same script!🤔

Because the facts remain the same duh

[novacova]

7 hours ago, Social Media said:

Russia Accused of Using Migrants to Destabilize Europe, Warns Italian PM Meloni

Oh really, who would have ever thought. And they’re just now figuring this out. I swear, the West have got some really stupid politicians.

[frank83628]

8 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Because the facts remain the same duh

Repeating the lie more like, got to keep the threat of Russia alive for to fool the gullible

[AndreasHG]

2 hours ago, Hakuna Matata said:

 

Oh, what a BS! 

 

90% of migrants are arriving in Europe over the Mediterranean, another 9% - over the Balkans. Only 1% using Russia or Belarus as an entry point to EU.

 

3 hours ago, frank83628 said:

Russia Russia Russia, yawn. No evidemce,  just nonsense to  continue the feas of the "bogeyman"

 

48 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Russia can just sit back and laugh at us as we allow our countries to be ruined, facilitated by our very own politicians.

 

2 hours ago, frank83628 said:

Your source is CNN, the outlet tha just got exposed pushing a fake prisoner rescue in syria just a week ago🤣

 

With due respect, your comments simply show how little you know about the world.

Russia, through Yevgeny Prigozhin's Wagner mercenary group first and through the Africa Corps now, has a wide presence in Africa, and it's not by chance that this presence is found along the main migratory routes.

Plenty of evidence has been collected of Russia proactive role in routing immigrants toward Europe. Meloni just stated the obvious.

What Russia is doing is part of Russia staged hybrid warfare against Europe, and it's ongoing since long before the invasion of Ukraine, with the goal of weakening Europe and its democratic institutions, while strengthening Putin's regime hand.

 

Information is widely available. Simply pause the urge to post comments for a minute and use this time to improve your knowledge and understanding of the world. 

Vladimir Putin's Russia weaponising immigration to destabilise Europe

Africa File Special Edition: Russia’s Africa Corps Arrives In Niger. What’s Next? | Critical Threats

The military involvement of the Russian Federation in Africa. Contracts and agreements signed | Institute of New Europe

From controlling mineral reserves to migrant routes: Russia's strategy in Africa

Niger after the Coup: new migration patterns in the Sahel?.

[Bkk Brian]

17 minutes ago, frank83628 said:

Repeating the lie more like, got to keep the threat of Russia alive for to fool the gullible

When facts stare you in the face and you have nothing other than to call it lies, that's when you know how far down the rabbit hole you really are. Or wait maybe the video was staged by the BBC............lol

[frank83628]

18 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

When facts stare you in the face and you have nothing other than to call it lies, that's when you know how far down the rabbit hole you really are. Or wait maybe the video was staged by the BBC............lol

Are they facts from the same people that lied about WMDs, Anthrax, Libya, syria, Iraq, babies in incubators, blew up NORD stream, etc etc etc?

[Bkk Brian]

1 minute ago, frank83628 said:

Are they facts from the same people that lied about WMDs, Anthrax, Libya, syria, Iraq, babies in incubators, blew up NORD stream, etc etc etc?

I suggest you stop the trolling and read who these facts are coming from, hint, it is not the US. Have an attempt at reading the OP

[NativeBob]

Her govt. is failing miserably, so she is using dumb-b**ch trick: blame scape-goat. And Russia is just perfect for that purpose. Nothing new

[frank83628]

29 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

I suggest you stop the trolling and read who these facts are coming from, hint, it is not the US. Have an attempt at reading the OP

 I know its not from the US, not directly, but the whole Russia BS started from there, its basically blame everything on Russia. It fits your POV so you happily believe anything without question

[AndreasHG]

46 minutes ago, frank83628 said:

its basically blame everything on Russia

 

What you Frank and the other Russian trolls active here fail to understand, is that dictators are inherently hostile to democracies, which they consider their sworn enemies.

 

When a country governed by a dictatorship opens up to democracy, the best thing that can happen to the dictator is to end up exiled like Pinochet or Assad, the worst is to suffer the same fatal fate of Gaddafi or Ceausescu. This is what keeps Puin awake at night.

 

Russia has never been capable of giving itself democratic institutions. And it never will.

The Russian people are condemned to live under the perpetual yoke of despotism due to their very ethnic composition. Giving Tatars, Chechens, Bashkirs, Chuvash, Avars, Armenians, Ukrainians, Dargins the right to vote freely for their representatives, would lead to the dissolution of the Russian Empire, or of the Russian Federation as it is known today.

It took the carpet bombing of Grozny, and the very heavy hand of a criminal like Ramzan Kadyrov, (the butcher of Grozny) to convince the Chechens to temporarily put aside their aspiration for independence.

 

The price paid by the Russians to keep their empire united is very high. The lack of freedom leads to a lack of innovation. Russia is the most backward country in Europe, except for the production of armaments and weapons of mass destruction (in which it excels in quantity produced, certainly not in quality). 
The lack of solid democratic checks and balances is reflected in endemic and widespread corruption, which permeates every aspect of the Russian life and limits its economic development.
The distribution of wealth favors oligarchs while foreign investments are scarce due to the weakness of the rule of law. 

 

The only beneficiaries of the Russian Empire are the dictator at its helm and the apparatchiks who are close to him. They live like rentiers, whose riches come from the natural resources of which the Empire is rich.

They do not need fellow citizens. All they need are obedient serfs, they use to extract the riches from the soil, and expendable cannon fodder to protect these riches from the occasional threat.

 

The Russian Empire is condemned by its very nature to a permanent and irreversible state of backwardness. The peoples annexed and subjugated in the Russian Empire know this too well. And this is the reason they want to escape it.