Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni voiced strong reservations on Friday about a hallway meeting in Paris that involved French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, on the eve of an EU leaders gathering. The stance aimed to keep the spotlight on European unity as the bloc prepares for talks with Kyiv and its broader security commitments.
Meloni argued that the decisive image was Zelensky standing with all 27 EU members, a moment she described as the clearest signal of solidarity. She warned that a sideline encounter could dilute that message and potentially influence public opinion at home. Speaking at a press conference before the EU summit, she labeled the Paris invitation as ill-timed, underscoring that the photo opportunity carried more weight than any supplementary discussions held away from the camera.
Upon arriving at the EU heads of state and government meeting, Meloni reiterated that the invitation should have been handled differently. She suggested that even if Italy had not been excluded, a different approach would have shown restraint and kept the focus on a unified front. She noted that there were two presidents in Paris, while the other 25 EU leaders stood apart from that particular moment.
Meloni stressed that managing the Ukraine issue publicly is not easy for any government. Italy continues to support Ukraine because it aligns with fundamental fairness and strategic interests, even if it means making tough compromises. The prime minister stressed that the aim is to act in what is useful for Italy’s and Europe’s broader security and political context, rather than pursuing optics alone.
Regarding her ties with Macron, Meloni acknowledged occasional disagreements—especially on immigration policy—but she framed their relationship as productive at times and strained at others. She described such interactions as political, not personal, and emphasized that cooperation remains essential when national interests converge.
Meloni asserted that Italy possesses a strong, centralized voice within the EU, capable of expressing disagreement when necessary while maintaining a commitment to Ukraine’s security and Europe’s stability. She reaffirmed full support for Kyiv and for the unity of the European project in addressing the war and its repercussions.
On Thursday, Macron publicly reflected on the ongoing collaboration with other leaders to implement critical measures in support of Ukraine. He noted that European nations respect diverse viewpoints and personal preferences while staying aligned on shared objectives, underscoring the need for coherent action across member states according to the evolving needs of the situation. These remarks were framed within a broader conversation about sustaining broad, practical support for Ukraine across the continent, a topic of ongoing debate among policymakers and citizens alike. [Source attribution: European Union leadership statements and press briefings]