Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hosted a summit in Rome on April 26, 2025, attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, notably without French President Emmanuel Macron. This meeting occurred on the sidelines of Pope Francis’s funeral, leveraging the presence of global leaders in Rome. Below is a detailed breakdown based on available information:
Context and Purpose
- Timing and Setting: The summit took place in Rome before the papal funeral, a high-profile event that brought world leaders together. Discussions were informal, lasting around 15 minutes, and focused on Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia and the pursuit of a just peace.
- Absence of Macron: Macron was in Rome for the funeral and met Zelensky separately but was not part of this specific summit. His exclusion may reflect strategic or diplomatic choices, possibly due to Meloni’s desire to lead the initiative or tensions from prior summits (e.g., Macron’s Paris meeting in February 2025, where Meloni expressed discomfort with his prominence).
- Geopolitical Backdrop: The meeting followed a tense February 2025 White House clash between Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump, which strained U.S.-Ukraine ties. European leaders, including Meloni, were keen to reaffirm support for Ukraine amid fears of reduced U.S. backing under Trump’s administration.
Key Points of the Summit
- Support for Ukraine: The leaders reiterated Europe’s commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and security. Von der Leyen emphasized Europe’s role in supporting Ukraine “at the negotiating table to achieve a just and lasting peace” and discussed Ukraine’s steps toward EU integration.
- Meloni’s Stance: Meloni expressed hope that Russia would show “concrete signs” of willingness to pursue peace. She has positioned herself as a bridge between Europe and the U.S., leveraging her warm relationship with Trump and Elon Musk to maintain transatlantic unity.
- Starmer’s Contribution: Starmer’s office noted “positive progress” toward a lasting peace, with agreements to maintain momentum and collaborate internationally. The UK has been pushing a “coalition of the willing” to enforce potential peace deals, including possible troop deployments.
- Tusk’s Role: Tusk, a vocal supporter of Ukraine, focused on logistical and political backing rather than Polish troop deployments, aligning with Poland’s stance of avoiding direct military involvement.
- Zelensky’s Position: Zelensky used the summit to reinforce Ukraine’s need for security guarantees and thanked leaders for their support. He also signaled openness to a U.S. minerals deal, aiming to mend ties with Trump.
Why Macron Was Excluded
- Meloni’s Leadership: Meloni, who has cultivated a strong relationship with Trump, may have sought to assert Italy’s role as a mediator, sidelining Macron, who has been a prominent figure in Ukraine-related diplomacy. Her reluctance to join Macron’s February 2025 Paris summit, where she felt his leadership overshadowed others, suggests underlying tensions.
- Diplomatic Strategy: The Rome summit was a quick, opportunistic meeting during the funeral, possibly organized to avoid the formalities of broader summits where Macron’s presence would be expected. Meloni’s team has previously criticized Macron’s unilateral initiatives.
- Macron’s Separate Engagement: Macron met Zelensky in Rome and reaffirmed France’s support, stating Ukraine was ready for an “unconditional ceasefire.” His absence from Meloni’s summit may reflect scheduling conflicts or a deliberate choice to avoid diluting his bilateral talks.
Outcomes and Implications
- Unified European Support: The summit reinforced Europe’s commitment to Ukraine, countering fears of a fractured West after Trump’s clash with Zelensky. Leaders agreed to sustain military and economic aid and involve Kyiv in peace negotiations.
- Meloni’s Bridge-Building: Meloni’s role as a potential mediator between Europe and the U.S. was highlighted, though her domestic coalition faces pressure from pro-Russia factions like Matteo Salvini, complicating her stance.
- Ceasefire Discussions: While no concrete ceasefire proposal emerged, the summit aligned with ongoing talks about a 30-day truce, supported by European leaders and reportedly briefed to Trump. This followed a May 10, 2025, Kyiv visit by Macron, Starmer, Tusk, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, where they pushed a similar ceasefire plan.
- Tensions with Macron: The exclusion of Macron underscores intra-European rivalries, particularly between Meloni and Macron, as they vie for influence in shaping Ukraine policy and relations with the U.S.
Broader Context
- London Summit (March 2, 2025): A larger summit hosted by Starmer included Macron, Meloni, Tusk, von der Leyen, and others, focusing on a “coalition of the willing” for Ukraine’s security. Macron and Starmer proposed a one-month truce, which Meloni cautiously supported but questioned regarding peacekeeping troops.
- Kyiv Visit (May 10, 2025): Macron, Starmer, Tusk, and Merz visited Kyiv together, signaling unity and pressuring Russia for a ceasefire. This contrasted with the Rome summit’s smaller, Macron-less format.
- U.S. Dynamics: Trump’s push for a quick deal with Russia, including pressure on Zelensky to concede territory, has forced European leaders to step up. Meloni’s summit aimed to maintain Western cohesion while navigating Trump’s unpredictability.
Critical Perspective
The Rome summit highlights Meloni’s strategic maneuvering to elevate Italy’s role in European diplomacy, capitalizing on her Trump ties. However, excluding Macron risks fragmenting European unity at a critical time. While the summit reaffirmed support for Ukraine, its informal nature and lack of concrete outcomes suggest it was more symbolic than substantive. The ongoing rivalry between Meloni and Macron could undermine coordinated European efforts, especially if Trump’s administration further reduces U.S. support for Ukraine.
If you have specific details about the summit (e.g., a particular outcome you’re curious about) or want me to dig deeper into any leader’s role, let me know! For related discussions, I can also pull insights from prior chats if needed.