[Emmanuel Macron and Giorgia Meloni Clash Over Diplomacy, Again Over Ukraine]

According to a May 18 report by the Financial Times, French President Emmanuel Macron accused Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of spreading "misinformation" and engaging in personal attacks, leading to tensions between the two countries. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is attempting to mediate the rift within the EU caused by the Ukraine issue.

On May 16, after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Albania alongside Chancellor Scholz, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Macron held a separate phone call with U.S. President Joe Biden to coordinate a ceasefire position without inviting Meloni.

Meloni claimed she was excluded due to her refusal to send troops to Ukraine (the so-called "Firm Coalition" proposal), emphasizing that "Italy does not participate in mechanisms that do not align with its goals." Macron rebutted this, denying that the talks involved military deployment, stating that "the focus of the discussion is on the ceasefire, and there is already enough misinformation from Russia; we should not create chaos internally."

In the meantime, German Chancellor Scholz has taken on the role of mediator between France and Italy. Before the papal inauguration ceremony, Scholz met with Meloni, promising "to ensure Italy's participation in all European peace processes," emphasizing that "there are no hierarchies in the EU and unity is needed to end the war." In response, Meloni called for abandoning "selfishness" and supporting a "just peace" (not a compromising surrender), referring to the Istanbul negotiations as a "cautious first step," implying dissatisfaction with France's approach.

Since Meloni took office in 2022, she has had multiple disagreements with Macron, including being uninvited to a private dinner with Zelenskyy in early 2023. Their policy differences include:

-- Macron advocates deploying "deterrent forces" to Ukraine after the war as security guarantees;

-- Meloni fears this could provoke Russia and insists on a "no troop deployment" stance, emphasizing pressure through sanctions.

-- Domestic pressure: Italian opposition parties criticize Meloni for being excluded, marginalizing the country, while her allies accuse Macron of "settling personal scores."

The conflict between France and Italy reflects deeper divisions within the EU over Ukraine strategy:

-- Hardliners (France, Poland, etc.): Advocate military intervention in post-war security;

-- Pragmatists (Italy, some Eastern European countries): Are wary of excessive military commitments.

Meloni has close ties with Trump, and her absence may affect the efficiency of U.S. coordination with Europe. If the EU continues to be internally divided, it might weaken its negotiation leverage against Russia.

Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1832518663698496/

Disclaimer: This article solely represents the views of the author.