Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has opted out of a G7 call to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as she seeks to avoid angering President Donald Trump while he is locked in a bitter row with Kyiv.
Trump’s disparaging remarks about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whom he called a “dictator”, and Washington’s refusal to describe Russia as the aggressor have shocked European officials — and so far thwarted a traditional G7 show of support for Ukraine on February 24, when Moscow started the full-scale invasion three years ago.
Though Meloni’s office cited a scheduling conflict for her inability to participate in the G7 call on Monday, analysts say her decision reflects her desire to avoid antagonising Trump. Her apparent unwillingness to take a stand now contrasts with her strong public support for Zelenskyy throughout the war.
“Meloni is doing high-wire acrobatics,” said Stefano Stefanini, Italy’s former ambassador to Nato. “She cannot — and doesn’t want — to turn her back on Ukraine because she has gone too far in supporting Kyiv and Zelenskyy. On the other side, she doesn’t want to give any hint of criticism of Trump, who has attacked Zelenskyy.”
Skipping the G7 call “is buying time before having to choose” which side to be on, Stefanini added.
But Meloni — a rightwing politician due to give a speech at the US Conservative Political Action Conference on Saturday — is in an especially awkward position, given her efforts to cultivate ties with Trump, and her deep friendship with his main financier Elon Musk, who has also laid into Zelenskyy.
Members of Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party had once hoped that her strong ideological affinity and long-standing ties with US Republicans would allow her to facilitate dialogue between Washington and Europe on issues including Ukraine and trade.
Instead, tensions have exploded.
“The pendulum swung way faster, to an extreme way further than anyone expected,” said Irdi. “But it’s impossible to build a bridge. The ocean is too wide now.”
“You have a president who is incredibly violent in his anti-Ukraine rhetoric and to keep being his friend, you have to support him on things that will alienate you from everyone else — and the positions you held in the past,” Irdi said. “If you take the G7 call, and you keep pushing for calling Putin the aggressor, you depreciate the capital you have built up with Trump and Musk.”
79792348978 on
the conservative movement is so cucked that leaders in OTHER COUNTRIES are scared of making Trump mad over even symbolic gestures
amainwingman on
She will see the light and eventually bend the knee to the true European overlord Sir Kier Starmer and his push for glorious European sovereignty
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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has opted out of a G7 call to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as she seeks to avoid angering President Donald Trump while he is locked in a bitter row with Kyiv.
Trump’s disparaging remarks about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whom he called a “dictator”, and Washington’s refusal to describe Russia as the aggressor have shocked European officials — and so far thwarted a traditional G7 show of support for Ukraine on February 24, when Moscow started the full-scale invasion three years ago.
Though Meloni’s office cited a scheduling conflict for her inability to participate in the G7 call on Monday, analysts say her decision reflects her desire to avoid antagonising Trump. Her apparent unwillingness to take a stand now contrasts with her strong public support for Zelenskyy throughout the war.
“Meloni is doing high-wire acrobatics,” said Stefano Stefanini, Italy’s former ambassador to Nato. “She cannot — and doesn’t want — to turn her back on Ukraine because she has gone too far in supporting Kyiv and Zelenskyy. On the other side, she doesn’t want to give any hint of criticism of Trump, who has attacked Zelenskyy.”
Skipping the G7 call “is buying time before having to choose” which side to be on, Stefanini added.
But Meloni — a rightwing politician due to give a speech at the US Conservative Political Action Conference on Saturday — is in an especially awkward position, given her efforts to cultivate ties with Trump, and her deep friendship with his main financier Elon Musk, who has also laid into Zelenskyy.
Members of Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party had once hoped that her strong ideological affinity and long-standing ties with US Republicans would allow her to facilitate dialogue between Washington and Europe on issues including Ukraine and trade.
Instead, tensions have exploded.
“The pendulum swung way faster, to an extreme way further than anyone expected,” said Irdi. “But it’s impossible to build a bridge. The ocean is too wide now.”
“You have a president who is incredibly violent in his anti-Ukraine rhetoric and to keep being his friend, you have to support him on things that will alienate you from everyone else — and the positions you held in the past,” Irdi said. “If you take the G7 call, and you keep pushing for calling Putin the aggressor, you depreciate the capital you have built up with Trump and Musk.”
the conservative movement is so cucked that leaders in OTHER COUNTRIES are scared of making Trump mad over even symbolic gestures
She will see the light and eventually bend the knee to the true European overlord Sir Kier Starmer and his push for glorious European sovereignty