In a display of foreign policy independence, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni chose not to attend the summit held in Kyiv on Saturday, May 10. Several European leaders gathered once again to demonstrate their support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Her absence, which has drawn criticism from the Italian opposition, is not, as some have suggested, due to scheduling conflicts. According to sources from Palazzo Chigi, it was a deliberate political choice, consistent with the line Italy has maintained since the beginning of the conflict: support for Ukraine, yes, but without getting involved in military ventures of questionable value, such as those proposed by the United Kingdom or France.
In Kyiv, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met to discuss an ambitious proposal: the creation of an integrated air-land-sea force and a possible reconstruction plan for Ukraine, in addition to demanding a 30-day truce from Moscow.
However, behind the façade of European unity lie deep divisions. The most significant: the deployment of European troops on Ukrainian soil without a UN mandate or within the framework of peacekeeping missions. This idea, championed by Macron and tentatively supported by others, is firmly rejected by Meloni.
Showing up at the summit in person would have forced her to publicly oppose the initiative, exposing a political rift that Moscow could have easily exploited. Instead, by participating via videoconference, she upheld her firm position without undermining the image of European cohesion.
From Rome, the Italian left seized the opportunity to attack the prime minister. Giuseppe Conte (Five Star Movement) accused Meloni of “watching from the sidelines,” while Matteo Renzi (Democratic Party) declared that “Italy is no longer on the front line.”
Meloni, for her part, has shown she has a clear vision: she will not send troops to Ukraine but will continue to provide military assistance and political support and, above all, work toward a lasting solution that guarantees Ukrainian sovereignty without dragging Europe into an uncontrollable military escalation. In her remote address, the prime minister emphasized that “conditions for a just and lasting peace are necessary,” echoing what she recently conveyed to former U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington.
Italy will host a major international reconstruction conference for Ukraine in July, with heads of state and government. At this conference, real and sustainable solutions will be discussed, instead of grandiose gestures.
