Giorgia Meloni has a problem with Ukraine. Even if officially “the government line does not change”. The Prime Minister left New York a day early, deciding to participate only by video link in Joe Biden's meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky. Then came the joint declaration. And immediately after, a note from Palazzo Chigi about the event. In the final text of the allies, we read clearly and clearly the determination to “provide military support to Ukraine”. In that of Italy, there is no reference to military support. Instead, there is “economic aid” and “attention to reform.” Reforms, not guns. And the Prime Minister’s “timidity” on the subject has only one reason: the polls.
Ukraine, polls and center-right
Over the years, support for kyiv among Western public opinion has gradually cooled. And the same thing happened in Italy too. In particular, the consensus of center-right voters has fallen. And some polls indicated that Italy's Brotherhood voters were cold. And even though Italy has committed to sending 1.7 billion weapons in 2025 and the Prime Minister herself has accused the Democratic Party of abstaining on the issue, it is now she who remains cold . Because we fear a possible military escalation, this is the reasoning. But also because within his coalition, Matteo Salvini has long changed course. Seeking to intercept the consensus of pacifists, the leader of the Northern League joined the “Basta Armi” party some time ago. And this can only worry the Prime Minister from the point of view of the center-right leadership.
The Musk case
Then there is Elon Musk. So far, on Ukraine, it has remained rather vague. On the one hand, he donated Starlink to the Ukrainians. On the other hand, he has often declared that it was madness to continue to support it because kyiv “will never win”. The owner of Tesla and X is known to be a supporter of Donald Trump. And Trump himself has attacked Zelensky in recent days. Calling him a “tout” who “rejects any peace agreement but continues to take weapons and money from the Americans.” In view of USA 2024, the choice of Meloni therefore seems to correspond to what could be the new American line in the event of the tycoon's victory in the elections. And on the other hand, the Prime Minister has always been closer to Trump than to Biden, if only for political reasons. This therefore partly explains the change of direction towards kyiv. But there is also another reason that moves Palazzo Chigi. Much more prosaic.
The defense alarm
The Ministry of Defense today declared The presshas sounded the alarm through the multiannual programmatic document for the triennium 2024-026, which describes a “general economic-financial framework of uncertainty” which weighs on the Italian armed forces. Precisely for the commitment to support Ukraine. Which would “not be sufficiently compensated by a flow of resources”. In short, there is a money problem. However, in his speech via video link, Meloni recalled the nine military aid packages and the brief shipment of a second Samp-T battery. And at this point, a question arises: who is Meloni with? With Biden or with Trump and Musk who want to liquidate Zelensky?
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