Politics · Italy · 7 hrs ago
Salvini and Vannacci challenge Meloni over Italy’s Ukraine policy
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni backed continued support for Ukraine ahead of a European Union leaders’ summit in Brussels.
Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, who leads the League party, said Italy should stop sending billions to Kyiv and focus on diplomacy.
He also argued that Europe should resume buying Russian gas and oil after the war, where it is cheaper.
Salvini skipped Meloni’s parliamentary address and went to a meeting of European nationalist parties in Brussels, making their disagreement public.
Roberto Vannacci’s allies also opposed Meloni’s position, while French nationalist leader Marine Le Pen expressed agreement with Salvini on ending the war and reducing aid.
The dispute highlights divisions within Italy’s governing camp and wider arguments over Ukraine aid, energy costs and the EU budget.
Meloni was due to face those issues, along with migration, at the Brussels summit, but no outcome is given.
Giorgia Meloni defended Italy’s continued support for Ukraine, while Matteo Salvini and Roberto Vannacci argued against continuing aid and called for diplomacy.
Meloni said Italy’s Ukraine policy followed the programme on which her party was elected in 2022.
Salvini said Italy could not keep sending billions to Ukraine and should resume buying Russian gas and oil after the war.
Vannacci’s supporters said Meloni’s position went in the opposite direction from theirs and held a flash mob outside Montecitorio.
The dispute unfolded ahead of a European Union leaders’ summit in Brussels.
- Who
- Giorgia Meloni, Matteo Salvini and Roberto Vannacci’s political allies.
- What
- Meloni defended Italy’s support for Ukraine, while Salvini and Vannacci’s allies challenged that policy and called for a shift toward diplomacy.
- When
- 14 October 2026, ahead of a European Union leaders’ summit.
- Where
- The dispute played out in Italy’s parliament in Rome and at a Patriots’ meeting in Brussels.
- Why
- Salvini said Italy could not continue sending billions to Ukraine and should buy energy where it costs less; Meloni said her government was following its election programme.
Giorgia Meloni
Matteo Salvini and Roberto Vannacci’s allies
Ukraine aid
Giorgia Meloni
Meloni defended continued support for Kyiv.
Matteo Salvini and Roberto Vannacci’s allies
Salvini said Italy could not keep sending billions to Ukraine, while Vannacci’s allies opposed Meloni’s approach.
Diplomacy and energy
Giorgia Meloni
Meloni rejected an agreement with the United States on Russian diesel and defended the government’s Ukraine policy.
Matteo Salvini and Roberto Vannacci’s allies
Salvini called for diplomacy and said Italy should resume buying Russian gas and oil after the war.
Meloni defended Italy’s Ukraine policy in the Chamber of Deputies ahead of the European Council meeting.
Vannacci’s supporters held a flash mob outside Montecitorio.
Salvini attended a Patriots’ meeting and told reporters Italy could not keep sending billions to Ukraine.
- Italian prime minister
- Giorgia Meloni
- Lega leader
- Matteo Salvini
- Vannacci ally addressed by Meloni
- Laura Ravetto
- Meloni’s policy reference
- The programme her party ran on in 2022
- Next EU gathering
- European Council leaders’ summit in Brussels
2 sources
What people are saying
We cannot go on indefinitely sending billions as a gift to Ukraine. It is time for diplomacy.
It would be more credible if you resigned and ran again with the new positions you support.
Meloni is going in the opposite direction from ours and this will be a problem for us.
Trump serves US interests, while the EU is masochistic.