Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni slapped down calls for peace negotiations with Russia in an impassioned speech to the Italian Senate on Wednesday, March 22nd. Meloni defended her government’s pro-Ukrainian stance in the conflict, responding to calls for a diplomatic solution by Five Star MP Elisa Scutellà.
Scutellà had earlier called for a de-escalation of the conflict, citing spiking energy prices and anti-war demonstrations in Italy. Meloni responded by accusing Scutellà and those wishing rapprochement with Moscow of supporting “propaganda done at the expense of a sovereign nation,” adding the conditions did not yet exist for peace with Moscow.
Meloni’s reproach of Scutellà reflects her stridently pro-Ukraine position since hostilities began, with Italy helping deliver anti-missile systems to Kyiv.
Meloni asserted Italy’s commitment to the Ukrainian cause despite a poll showing that 45% of Italians disapprove of the supply of arms to Ukraine, compared to 34% who favour the government’s policy.
Meloni and her Fratelli d’Italia party govern the country in a right-wing coalition with the Lega Party and Forza Italia. Both of her coalition partners have been noted for their pro-Russian stances, with Forza Italia leader Silvio Berlusconi blaming the war on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
While Meloni government’s commitment to the Ukrainian war effort is unwavering, other issues, such as support for Russia and migration, are responsible for brewing tensions in the coalition between Fratelli and Matteo Salvini’s Lega Party.
Her speech is the most vocal assertion of Fratelli’s pro-NATO and pro-Atlanticist credentials on Ukraine, differentiating her policies from those of many other European right-wing populists, and even her coalition partners. Viewed cynically, Melloni may be using the war as an incentive to materialise plans for Italy to become Europe’s energy hub, and to ingratiate herself with the EU hierarchy.
