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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently stepped in to defuse a diplomatic spat between Rome and Paris regarding Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s exclusion from a group of European leaders coordinating with the White House on Ukraine. Tensions arose when French President Emmanuel Macron accused Meloni of spreading false information about her absence from a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a call with former President Donald Trump.
Meloni attended a summit in Albania with 40 European leaders, including Zelenskyy, but did not join Merz, Macron, Sir Keir Starmer, and Poland’s Donald Tusk for a separate discussion on the Russia-Ukraine peace talks. The European leaders later issued a statement denouncing Putin’s demands as unacceptable. Meloni explained that Italy was not included in the meeting due to its stance on not deploying troops to Ukraine as part of a proposed security coalition after a peace agreement.
Macron clarified that troop deployments were not discussed during the meetings in Tirana or Kyiv, where he was accompanied by Starmer, Merz, and Tusk, but not Meloni. He emphasized the focus on achieving a ceasefire and cautions against spreading misinformation.
Merz met with Meloni ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural mass and emphasized the importance of Italy’s involvement in European peace initiatives in Ukraine. He reassured that Italy must play a role in resolving the conflict and emphasized unity among EU members to end the war promptly.
During a joint press conference, Meloni urged leaders to prioritize the unity of the West and work towards a just peace that does not compromise Ukraine’s interests. Her absence from the European quartet engaging with Trump on Ukraine’s behalf, and the criticism from Macron, sparked controversy in Italy, with critics accusing her of isolating the country from crucial decisions.
The strained relations between Meloni and Macron date back to her assumption of power in 2022, exacerbated by her exclusion from private meetings with Zelenskyy. Meloni’s clashes with Merz’s predecessor, Olaf Scholz, over migration policies have also contributed to tensions within European leadership.
Despite past animosities, Merz sought to foster a positive relationship with Meloni and emphasized their shared goal of a strong, secure, and competitive Europe. He expressed gratitude for establishing close communication with her and emphasized the importance of cooperation in addressing European challenges.
For more updates on this evolving situation, stay tuned for additional reporting by Giuliana Ricozzi in Rome.
