The leader of Italy's far-right League party, Matteo Salvini, said that Western sanctions against Russia are not working and actually harm Italy, so they need to be reviewed.

 He said this while speaking at a conference of political leaders on Sunday in Lake Como, writes Politico.

 Salvini said sanctions against Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine had indeed helped Russia, leading to an export surplus of $140 billion in the year to July.

 "Should we defend Ukraine? Yes. But I wouldn't want the sanctions to do more harm to those who impose them than to those they affect," Salvini said.

 Salvini said that his "League" party supports measures to help Ukraine both at the national and EU level. He said he would not break with Western allies if they continued to impose sanctions, but he also urged other leaders to reconsider their tactics.

 "If we get into government, will we change alliances? No. We remain deeply, proudly and firmly rooted in the free and democratic West that opposes war and aggression. But if we use a tool to harm the aggressor, and after seven months of war he wasn't hurt, at least considering the change seems legitimate to me," Salvini said.

 He argued that a European response was needed to tame energy prices or thousands of jobs could be lost. "Of course we need a European shield, like during COVID," Salvini said.

 Salvini's statements came just a few weeks before Italians go to the polls on September 25 to elect a parliament. It is expected that the right-wing coalition, which includes the League, will win the elections.

 Critics say Salvini is repeating a popular thesis used by the Russian government. Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio from the rival party. "Together for the Future" claims that Salvini opposes sanctions to "do Putin a favor." According to him, Salvini and his allies were divided on this issue.