The fine line on Kyiv and the EU, Meloni’s stance and the centre-left. Delrio speaks out

Democratic Party Senator Graziano Delrio told Il Foglio yesterday that he was impressed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s pro-European shift – “on the EU needing to speak with one voice, and for her clear words of support for Kyiv”. It was the day on which the showdown within the centre-left over Ukraine failed to materialise in the Senate, during the Prime Minister’s address on the eve of the European Council, due to what might be called circumstances beyond her control – namely, the Senate’s own rules of procedure, which stipulate that no vote is to be held on the various opposition resolutions once the majority’s resolutions have been given the green light. However, in the meantime, the differences of opinion between the reformist Democrats, IV, Più Europa, M5S and AVS (with varying degrees of willingness to provide aid, including military aid, to Kyiv within the PD) were laid bare by the applause for Meloni from Democratic Party senators (including Delrio himself, Filippo Sensi, Sandra Zampa, Pierferdinando Casini and Walter Verini). Although Delrio and the Prime Minister exchanged biblical references to underscore the nuances regarding the future of European integration (he citing Balaam’s donkey, she the Tower of Babel), Delrio appears optimistic: “It is pleasing to see that Meloni has steered clear of the wrong paths taken, for example, by the Lega, and is showing herself to be in line with clearly pro-European positions, whilst recognising the importance of an Italy that is firmly committed to strengthening Europe. Only by strengthening Europe, in fact, can we defend the national interest. And I am pleased that the Prime Minister supports the EU mission in Lebanon and that, regarding Kyiv, as well as reaffirming our support, she sees on the horizon an EU speaking with one voice.” In that case, however, says Delrio, “we should also state that we are willing to increase the EU budget, that we agree with Mario Draghi and support the single market for capital, and that we are committed to European and defence policy – and that we are therefore ready not only to talk, but to act as pro-Europeans”. As for Ukraine, Delrio does not believe “there is any contradiction between advancing diplomacy and providing aid to the resistance of a country that has suffered an invasion. It is one thing to encourage dialogue; it is quite another to sit down with Putin whilst he continues to bomb, kill and target civilian infrastructure. Peace cannot be traded for surrender. That said, it is good that Meloni has expressed her support for an EU representative to help facilitate peace negotiations.”

In the meantime, however, the centre-left must find common ground, navigating its way through various divergent positions. There are those who have called for the ‘Bettini ruling’, named after the Democratic Party guru who, in the Corriere della Sera, proposed a solution of ‘a truce and weapons for defensive purposes only’; Those who say “no” to weapons (along the lines of “Italians can’t eat with weapons”, as Giuseppe Conte put it) and those, such as the Democratic Party reformists, says Delrio, who know that “if a future centre-left government were to withhold its aid to Ukraine, it would immediately find itself isolated in Europe”. What, then, is the formula – if it exists – that can bring everyone in the broad coalition into agreement? “It must first be clear that Kyiv cannot be left without the means to defend its civilians. Meanwhile, I repeat, whilst we continue to help Ukraine, we can prioritise diplomatic efforts in the name of a lasting peace. However, we must be realistic: if the attacks on Kyiv continue, it is pointless to simply express outrage. Problems must be managed.” The Democratic Party senator is speaking out so that the Five Star Movement takes note, although Conte continues to reiterate his “no” to sending weapons. Delrio speaks, recalling “that he was among the first to say that we must not make the mistake of equating Vladimir Putin with Russia, and that the Russian people must not be regarded as enemies. But whilst politics and diplomacy play their part, we must not confuse this process with surrender”.