Zelenski takes Italian Prime Minister Meloni aside after feeling ‘ignored’ by Macron and Scholz | War Ukraine and Russia

Last year in June, her predecessor Mario Draghi was present when Macron and Scholz traveled by train to Kiev. Draghi played a leading role in shaping European attitudes towards Russia after the invasion of Ukraine. Meloni felt she was left out in the cold. And she was not happy about that.

Arriving at the European summit today, she said it was “inappropriate” for Macron to host Zelensky with Scholz at the Elysée, the president’s official residence in Paris. “We must be united,” said Meloni, feeling ignored. “Rome wants to play a leading role, also in terms of reconstruction (of Ukraine, ed.).”

Macron was not touched by Meloni’s criticism. “As you know, Germany and France have had a special role in Ukraine for eight years now,” he said, referring to the unsuccessful negotiations between Paris and Berlin with Kiev and Moscow after Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

According to the Italian news agency Ansa, Meloni had hoped for a private meeting with Zelensky on the margins of the summit, but Italy – Europe’s third largest economy after Germany and France – was grouped with five other countries to deal with. talk to the Ukrainian president.

After that conversation, Zelensky took Meloni aside. The two had a long conversation, during which Meloni was able to reaffirm that it unequivocally supports Ukraine in the fight against Russia. Diplomats Ansa spoke to noted that Zelensky was “very grateful” for the Italian commitment.

It is no secret that Meloni’s far-right views are inconsistent with those of both Macron and Scholz. As a result, she is further away from them than Draghi was at the time.

Earlier this week, French and German ministers also traveled to Washington together to negotiate US subsidies. Italy was not invited then either.