FLASH
Shkruar nga PamfletiThe latter two would not be sorry, but here too the battle continues: it seems that yesterday Macron got heated up in the face of this hypothesis, proposing Geneva as a better option. Meloni calmed him down with a joke. This is not the moment to be divided.
Initially, she flew to Rome to connect with the Coalition of the Willing's video conference and prepare a joint line that will be presented today at the White House, when key European leaders, EU President von der Leyen, NATO head Rutte will meet Trump and Zelensky.
Then in the evening, Giorgia Meloni, always with her phone in her hand, left for Washington.
No one knows if a real step forward will be made. Of course, the goal is not to repeat the scene of six months ago, when Trump "ignored" Zelensky in front of the cameras, in an epic clash. As far as they are concerned, the real sticking point yesterday evening in the talks between the leaders was precisely the format of the press statements. The White House had thought of quick communications between Trump and Zelensky in the Oval Office immediately after the face-to-face meeting. But the risk that was being seen, as Meloni explained to allies, is that everything will turn into a show on Trump's part that ends up leaving Zelensky and all the other leaders without a voice, or in a dangerous overlap of voices and positions. Therefore, the pressure on Trump is great to adopt a more institutional model, as in Alaska: statements by both presidents without questions, at the end of the day.
It remains to be seen whether Trump will be convinced. Of course, as Meloni tells his own people, for the moment there is nothing left but to accompany his efforts with patience and persistence, without attacking him, even when the desire would be lacking due to the overly friendly tones he has used with Putin. But yesterday the Prime Minister also told the other leaders: the risk is that Trump, if attacked, will blow everything up and say that Ukraine does not want peace, Europe does not cooperate, and then do as you please because the Americans will come to an agreement directly with the Russians. A catastrophe, which would leave Europe in a bind. So, weave with the thread we have.
So, what is Italy's stance in Washington?
Saying that the Italian prime minister does not give much weight to the phone calls in which many countries participate without reaching any conclusion other than commenting on her own — to please Macron who will show "that he is the true leader of Europe", in a note Meloni writes that in the discussion "the importance of continuing to work with the United States to end the conflict and achieve a peace that ensures the sovereignty and security of Ukraine, which must be included in any decision, was reiterated". Furthermore, "the discussion confirmed the need to maintain collective pressure on Russia and for strong and credible security guarantees".
These words, of course, were more general than those exchanged by the leaders in their closest talks. The key point, for the Italian prime minister, who also discussed it with Zelensky, is to ensure that Ukraine will not be left alone in the future. And that, this is the plan "invented by us", as she reiterates, to expand the application of NATO's Article 5 so that if Ukraine were attacked, it would be protected by the alliance, even without being a structural part of it.
The idea does not convince Macron, who is pushing for a direct intervention by European countries in defense of Ukraine, with military contingents. But Meloni has responded: "Russia has one million and three hundred thousand soldiers: how many should we send to be there to fulfill the task?" And he adds: "If one of our soldiers were to die, would we pretend it didn't happen or would we have to react? Because if we react, it is clear that NATO will do the same. And then it is all the better to activate the clause immediately."
The idea seems to interest both Zelensky and Trump, less so Macron, who does not like the Italian position, in a clash of positions that has been going on for a long time. It will be a decisive moment, the first of the "extremely complex" issues, as the Italian Prime Minister says: the adoption of Russian as an official language, the territories that Putin is demanding, the ceasefire. But the security issue remains preliminary: what can Zelensky do to accept some of the Russians' conditions and explain to his compatriots that "death was of any use?" An automatic defense, the Italian Prime Minister is convinced, would be "a concrete, solid result" for him. It will be seen tonight if there are any steps forward. And perhaps the Italian proposal for Rome to be the venue for a possible tripartite meeting between Putin, Zelensky, Trump could be followed up. The latter two would not mind, but here too the battle continues: it seems that Macron got heated up yesterday in the face of this hypothesis, proposing Geneva as a better option. Meloni calmed him down with a joke. This is not the moment to be divided./ Corriere della sera
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