Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni faces mounting criticism at home for opting to join a high-profile Kyiv summit remotely rather than attending in person, as opposition leaders accuse her of sidelining Italy’s role in Europe’s Ukraine strategy, according to Euractiv.
The 10 May meeting, which included French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, reignited comparisons to Italy’s symbolic 2022 visit under then-PM Mario Draghi, a gesture now overshadowed by Meloni’s absence.
Former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, leader of the Five Star Movement, accused Meloni of “watching from the sidelines” via videoconference, while Matteo Renzi of Italia Viva declared Italy “no longer on the front line” under her leadership. The criticism underscores broader frustrations with Meloni’s foreign policy, which opposition figures argue weakens Italy’s influence in shaping EU responses to the war in Ukraine.
However, Meloni’s office defended her remote participation as a “political choice,” citing a desire to avoid endorsing proposals for deploying European troops in Ukraine, a stance championed by Macron but rejected by Rome. Instead, Italy prioritised pushing for NATO-style security guarantees for Kyiv, potentially under Article 5, without committing to Ukraine’s full NATO membership.
The summit’s agenda included discussions on an integrated EU military force for Ukraine and a 30-day ceasefire demand for Moscow, proposals Meloni’s government views as escalatory and misaligned with its cautious approach. By staying away, Meloni sidestepped pressure to endorse troop deployments, a red line for her coalition, which includes sceptics of deeper military involvement.
The fallout highlights deepening fissures within Europe. While Macron and Merz advocate assertive military support, Meloni’s stance echoes Central European hesitancy. Her government has instead focused on organising a July reconstruction conference for Ukraine, framing it as a pragmatic alternative to “grandiose gestures.”
