"Meloni was brave on Ukraine, but it's in the EU that we'll see what she really wants to do". Calenda speaks

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“ Giorgia Meloni was courageous in her speech at CPAC . In the midst of an audience of neo-fascists, she managed to go against Trump on Ukraine, someone who is asking Kyiv to pay him an exorbitant sum to avoid being handed over to Putin. Now, however, the prime minister must also demonstrate with facts which side she is on.” On the third anniversary of the start of the Russian invasion, Carlo Calenda praises the prime minister once again, but now invites her to be consistent with the words she spoke on Saturday. Calenda says: “A European response to Trump must be built immediately: on Ukraine, on defense, on tariffs. The elections in Germany could be a turning point, Meloni must talk to Merz.” In her video message at CPAC, the prime minister spoke of the Ukrainians, calling them “a proud people fighting for their freedom against an unjust aggression.” “Words – says the leader of Azione – much clearer than those pronounced by Elly Schlein who didn’t even show up in the pro-Ukraine squares on Sunday for fear of who knows what. Of Conte and the Five Stars? Of the pacifists of the Democratic Party? Of Avs? At most Schlein has to deal with Conte, Meloni has to deal as Prime Minister with Trump. Schlein would have needed much less courage to show up in the square than the Prime Minister needed to speak at the convention. But on the other hand – continues Calenda – between Conte praising Trump, Renzi going to Miami to claque the American president paid by Saudi Arabia and Schlein talking about something else, this seems to me to be the sad fate of the broad field. No, I will never be part of it. We are on a ridge through which History passes, under these conditions Azione will not even be there for parliamentary and local collaborations”.

Wide-field squabbles aside, a European reaction to the explosive dynamism of the American president seems to be starting to emerge. The future German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said yesterday that: “It is unacceptable that the US decides over the heads of Ukraine and the EU”. The British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a new package of sanctions against Russia and above all new aid to Ukraine for over four billion pounds. And from Kyiv, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen also spoke of a new package of sanctions and decisions on aid to Ukraine that will have to arrive soon. The day to mark on the calendar is next March 6, when an extraordinary council will be held on these very issues. “That's where we'll really see what Meloni wants to do: whether to become a vassal of Trump or stand with Europe and Ukraine”, says Calenda. “We need a common axis. The Prime Minister must understand that Trump does not respect those who try to be his vassal, but force: this is the only language that the predators understand. In Moscow, in Tehran and now also in Washington. And so if he imposes tariffs, there will be nothing to promise him, we should impose them, together, ourselves. If he doesn't help Ukraine, we should do it. This is what is needed: a tough Europe that rediscovers its nature as a great power". And yet even from the speech at CPAC the approach of the prime minister seems more like that of someone who wants to try to make the American president see reason. "I fear it is useless", Calenda maintains. "Just look at what happened with the tariffs on Mexico and Canada. It wasn't the soldiers at the border that made Trump change his mind, but Wall Street that collapsed. And ultimately it is obvious that this is the case. Trump is the head of a kleptocracy, he represents everything he says he doesn't represent, namely the large American financial and industrial groups. This is why he only gets scared when 'money is involved'. We have to hold firm , because if we get scared too, we will have a financial crisis, without even being able to stop him".

Calenda's position on Ukraine is not surprising. Among the first to visit the country after the start of the conflict, the leader of Azione returned last week, spending three days in Odessa. He met local administrators, NGOs that deal with children's education and visited a hospital destroyed by the Russians, the site of the drone bombing that a few days ago left the city in darkness for hours. And then obviously also the cathedral, destroyed in 1936 by the Soviets, rebuilt and reopened only in 2010 and destroyed again by Putin's bombs in 2023. Italy should renovate it: "But the funds sent to UNESCO have never arrived". "Every time I go - he says - it strikes me to see a place so similar to ours with people who live in such different conditions. I was moved to go to the Odessa Opera House and see it full for Carmen. The difference with what happens here is that when the air raids come, everyone goes down to the bomb shelters and then comes back up to see the show. It is a moving testimony to the strength of a people. They are exhausted, but everyone says 'yes, but we are not going back to the Russians'. They have no intention of surrendering, with or without our weapons.

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