The accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO should be postponed, Italian League leader Matteo Salvini told reporters on Saturday on the sidelines of a local event. 

"Today is not the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO but forcing Ukraine and Russia to talk to each other. Then the enlargement of the European Union and the adhesions to NATO, we will be able to talk in the coming months," the Italian politician was quoted as saying by local media. 

"I think only in terms of peace. What brings peace closer must be done immediately, what takes away peace must be put on the waiting list," he said.