Macron, Meloni to meet amid tensions over Ukraine support and trade policies

Reuters reported the information, citing the Elysée Palace.

The meeting comes amid disagreements over the Coalition of the Willing to support Ukraine.

“Hostility flared publicly in recent weeks, with officials close to Macron and Meloni privately or openly criticising their respective initiatives over Ukraine or trade,” the news agency writes.

The article also highlights that French President Macron and Italian Prime Minister Meloni hold different views on the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump.

“The president is available to all of our European partners, whatever the political persuasion may be,” an Elysée Palace official told reporters.

Macron and Meloni will also discuss security guarantees for Kyiv, a trade agreement with MERCOSUR, and industrial cooperation between Paris and Rome.

Italian officials say the goal of the meeting is to “lay the foundations for a further strengthening of relations.” They add that the leaders will also address the situations in the Middle East and Libya.

• Earlier reports said Giorgia Meloni was not invited to join the Coalition of the Willing leaders during talks with Trump in Albania on Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron accused her of spreading false information, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz worked to ease tensions.