Politics · Italy · 2 hrs ago
Some Italian opposition senators applaud Meloni’s support for Ukraine
Several opposition senators applauded Meloni’s support for Ukraine during her speech in Italy’s Senate.
The applause came as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni spoke ahead of a European Council meeting.
Among those applauding were Democratic Party senators Graziano Delrio, Filippo Sensi, Walter Verini and Sandra Zampa, independent senator Pier Ferdinando Casini, and Carlo Calenda of Azione.
The Five Star Movement and the Greens and Left Alliance did not applaud.
Delrio said support for Ukraine was rooted in European values, not just Italy’s interests.
Meloni argued that backing Ukraine can make peace possible, saying that if Ukraine stopped defending itself, it could face occupation rather than peace.
She said Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky would meet European leaders at the start of the council meeting.
Some Italian opposition senators joined the governing majority in applauding Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s support for Ukraine in the Senate.
The applause came as Meloni addressed the Senate ahead of a European Council meeting.
The senators included members of the Democratic Party’s reformist wing, independent Pier Ferdinando Casini and Carlo Calenda of Azione.
Meloni said support for Ukraine was necessary to make peace possible and help bring Russia to serious negotiations.
The rest of the centre-left, including the Five Star Movement and the Greens and Left Alliance, did not join the applause.
- Who
- Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and opposition senators, including Democratic Party reformists, Pier Ferdinando Casini and Carlo Calenda.
- What
- Some opposition senators applauded Meloni’s support for Ukraine during her Senate address.
- When
- During Meloni’s communications ahead of the European Council. The date of the address is not stated.
- Where
- The Senate chamber at Palazzo Madama, in Italy.
- Why
- Meloni argued that supporting Ukraine could make peace possible; Senator Graziano Delrio said support reflected shared European values and principles.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Meloni addressed the Senate and spoke about Ukraine.
The governing majority applauded Meloni’s remarks, and some opposition senators joined in.
Delrio spoke in the Senate and said he supported Ukraine on the basis of shared European values and principles.
- Location
- Senate chamber at Palazzo Madama
- Democratic Party senators
- Filippo Sensi, Walter Verini, Graziano Delrio and Sandra Zampa
- Independent senator
- Pier Ferdinando Casini
- Azione
- Carlo Calenda joined the applause
- Other centre-left parties
- Five Star Movement and Greens and Left Alliance did not join the applause
What people are saying
Support for Ukraine is not the alternative to peace: it is what makes it possible.
If the aggressor can aim for the surrender of its adversary, what need does it have to negotiate? Surrender is not peace, it is conquest.
We stand with Ukraine not because it is in our interest, but because there is a framework of values and principles that are fundamental to this European Union and on which we have built a dream of peace and coexistence.