Reaction from Rome. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed disappointment over last Friday’s tense meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
- However, she remains convinced that open and frank discussions with Washington are necessary to find shared solutions, warning that dividing the West would be a “grave mistake.”
A diplomatic push in London. On Sunday, PM Meloni travelled to London for a bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer before joining the Leaders’ Summit on Ukraine.
- Meeting with Zelensky, she reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to a “just and lasting peace.”
- Addressing leaders at the summit, she stressed that Western unity must remain the priority, adding that division would be detrimental, especially for Ukraine.
- This message was also conveyed directly to Trump during a phone call on Saturday evening, in which Meloniproposed a US-EU summit—an idea she described as “absolutely within reach.”
- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk voiced full support for Meloni’s initiative, which will be discussed at Thursday’s extraordinary European Council meeting.
Bridging transatlantic divides. Meloni described Trump as a “dealer” who enjoys striking deals and suggested that Italy could play a key role in building diplomatic bridges across the Atlantic.
- She emphasized that NATO remains the central framework for European security and dismissed discussions about alternative arrangements, such as a European nuclear deterrent, as “not particularly smart.”
- Italy continues to balance military aid commitments with diplomatic efforts, ensuring long-term European security amid growing uncertainty over U.S. engagement.
- Meanwhile, Italy remains under heavy Russian hybrid campaigns.
- Since the invasion of Ukraine, cyberattacks against Italian institutions and companies by Russian-linked groups have surged—from 5,509 in 2021 to 13,682 in 2022, followed by 12,101 in 2023 and 12,058 in 2024, according to Italian law enforcement data.
Italy’s stance on military involvement. The Italian PM reiterated her scepticism regarding a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine, arguing that it risks being “highly complex and less effective.”
- She clarified that sending Italian troops “has never been on the table,” likely addressing concerns within her owncoalition—particularly from Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, leader of Lega, who has taken a staunchly pro-Trump stance.
- Without mentioning him directly, Meloni appeared to rebuke Salvini, cautioning that “this is not the time for political cheerleading” but for a more strategic approach to foreign policy.
Trade tensions with Washington. During the final press briefing in London, Meloni was also asked about Trump’s threat to impose 25% tariffs on European exports.
- She expressed concern, acknowledging that such measures would be damaging to Italy as an export-driven economy and could trigger an escalation that would weaken all parties involved.
- However, she remained optimistic that “solutions can be found through dialogue rather than confrontation.”
