Both Italy and Germany want a “just and durable peace” that fits into a broader European and transatlantic security architecture. Rome’s message is clear: no viable deal without Europe’s political weight, security guarantees, and long-term economic role.
Driving the news: Meloni and Merz exchanged first assessments of Washington’s draft plan.
Italian officials stress that security guarantees must remain central — reflecting a long-standing Italian position: any settlement must reinforce European stability, not bypass it.
- The two leaders agreed to continue engaging in the ongoing diplomatic push.
Zoom in: The U.S. proposal. The American framework reportedly includes:
- Territorial concessions from Ukraine;
- Limits on Ukraine’s military size;
- No NATO accession;
A reconstruction chapter tied to:
- a Ukrainian development fund,
- U.S. support for restoring gas infrastructure,
- access to minerals and natural resources,
- operational backing from the World Bank.
Supporters say the plan grants Kyiv meaningful concessions. Critics warn it remains vague on key points and is still only a draft — there is no official version, and capitals are working from broad outlines.
The Ukrainian stance
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not reject the plan.
- He signaled readiness to work with Washington on the “proposals”, a shift after domestic resistance to territorial compromises.
- As with Gaza, Kyiv sees value in Washington’s renewed diplomatic push after nearly four years of war.
Italy from the European angle: Europe does not want to simply endorse a U.S.-Russia-Ukraine arrangement, as Minister Antonio Tajani said during EU Foreign Affairs Council. Under discussion:
- EU membership for Kyiv,
- NATO’s eastern-flank defence redesign,
- management of frozen Russian assets,
- long-term energy security
- all directly affect Europe.
- Rome and Berlin are positioning themselves as pragmatic brokers to ensure Brussels is structurally involved.
What’s next: The G20 in Johannesburg becomes a key platform for Meloni to sound out partners:
- No U.S. delegation will attend.
- Vladimir Putin will also be absent due to the ICC arrest warrant, though economic adviser Maxim Oreshkin will be on site.
- China will be represented by Premier Li Qiang, not Xi Jinping.
Despite these gaps, Italy aims to use the summit to shape the emerging peace architecture — and ensure Europe is not a latecomer to a war that has transformed its own security landscape.
