Escalation of diplomatic hotspots in Europe: Merz attempts to resolve the conflict between Meloni and Macron over Ukraine issues
Amid the tense atmosphere of European diplomacy, efforts continue to stabilize the situation around the Ukrainian question following a heated incident between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and French President Emmanuel Macron. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who has recently taken on the role of mediator, aims to prevent further deepening of the rift within the European community that arose due to disagreements over countries’ positions in the context of the Russia-Ukraine war. The conflict erupted on May 16, when, amidst diplomatic negotiations within the EU and US regarding ways to resolve the crisis in Ukraine, accusations and mutual reproaches intensified between the leaders. The immediate trigger was Macron’s statement, in which he accused Meloni of spreading “misinformation.” The reason was Meloni’s absence from the latest meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and from a phone conversation with US counterpart Donald Trump, which she missed due to participating in the European Political Community summit in Tirana. The summit held in the Albanian capital gathered over 40 European leaders, including Zelensky, but was marred by the absence of a representative from the Italian government. Meloni’s non-attendance caused a mixed reaction, and her explanation regarding the decision not to participate in these formats—namely, her refusal to send troops to Ukraine—provoked criticism from colleagues and anti-Russian accusations. Meloni emphasized that Italy has made it clear early on and for a long time that it does not intend to participate in formations involving the sending of military personnel to Ukraine. “Italy has long and firmly stated its position: we do not want military involvement in the conflict. Participating in initiatives with goals opposite to ours makes no sense for us,” she underscored. Her words were understood by many European colleagues, but they sparked a wave of outrage in Italy, where local press and politicians accuse Meloni of allegedly sidelining the country from important security and diplomatic decisions. In response to the criticism and tension, President Macron tried to ease the situation, assuring that military involvement and deployment of forces are not currently the focus of discussions. According to him, the main efforts are mainly aimed at ceasefire initiatives and preventing disinformation from Russia. Macron stated that the visits to Tirana with Merz and Tusk did not involve any discussions about military actions but focused on finding paths to peace. To reduce tensions, Friedrich Merz held a separate meeting with Meloni, aiming to soften the consequences of the conflict and persuade her of Italy’s importance in European peace initiatives regarding Ukraine. According to the German Chancellor, both leaders concluded that Italy should play its role in accordance with its capabilities and position. Meloni’s absence from the European "quartet" and her open disagreements with Macron caused lively and outraged reactions in Italian media and political circles. Many critics emphasize that such a situation could negatively affect the country’s position in global diplomacy and security issues. While some call for unity and compromise, concerns are growing that internal disputes could weaken Europe’s stance in the complex race surrounding Ukraine. Thus, the diplomatic game around Ukraine is intensifying, and its consequences may determine not only the chessboard of international politics but also the future balance of power in the region. The world is closely watching whether European leaders will manage to overcome disagreements and find a common path to peace, or whether internal conflicts threaten to deepen the crisis and render it even more uncontrollable.