Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is positioning herself as a bridge between the U.S. and the EU on Ukraine, urging Western unity while drawing a firm red line—Italy won’t be sending troops.
In a televised interview on Rai 1, Meloni downplayed the apparent divide between Washington and Europe over how to handle the conflict, insisting that “everyone wants the same thing—a lasting peace for Ukraine.” But when it comes to Britain and France’s push to send peacekeeping forces, she didn’t mince words: “It’s a complex reality. That’s why we won’t be sending Italian soldiers.”
Over the weekend, Meloni joined 17 European leaders and Canada’s Justin Trudeau in London for high-level talks on the war. The summit, attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, aimed to reinforce Western support amid growing fractures. As the UK announced a £1.6 billion (€1.94 billion) military aid package for Ukraine, Meloni acknowledged the weight of the decisions on the table, stressing, “These choices can’t be made lightly.”
The meeting followed a dramatic clash between Zelensky and former U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, where Trump bluntly reminded the Ukrainian leader that Kyiv’s leverage hinges on American backing. “You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards,” Trump reportedly told him. The heated exchange has rattled European leaders, raising fears that the U.S. could shift its stance, leaving Ukraine in a precarious position.
Meloni, however, isn’t here to add fuel to the fire. “There are moments to argue, and there are moments for serious leaders to rebuild bridges,” she said, emphasizing that division within the West only weakens its position. Unlike Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán and Slovakia’s Robert Fico, who openly challenge military aid to Ukraine, Meloni has remained steadfast in her support—though she’s careful not to back moves that could fracture the alliance.
“Italy’s national interest lies in keeping the West united,” she stated.
Beyond Ukraine, Meloni touched on trade tensions with Washington, warning against escalating disputes that could spiral into a trade war. “Tariffs among allies don’t benefit anyone, not even the U.S.,” she argued, adding that Italy, as an export-driven economy, has a vested interest in preventing economic fallout.
With tensions rising on multiple fronts, Meloni is walking a tightrope—balancing Italy’s commitments to Ukraine with its national interests, all while trying to keep the West from splintering.
