Andrea Innocenti Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni attended the European Political Community meeting in Dublin today, part of the informal summit on artificial intelligence. The discussion, however, quickly shifted to the urgent issue of aid to Ukraine , a central theme of the Berlin Format and the latest trilateral talks held in Abu Dhabi.
Following the meeting, the Prime Minister held a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky . The meeting provided an opportunity to review the progress of the negotiations and reiterate Italy's firm support for the Kiev government, as communicated by the Prime Minister's office.
The funding debate: Friedrich Merz's proposal
In parallel, a table is circulating in Brussels that ranks aid to Ukraine based on the GDP of individual member states. The top ten contributors include the Baltic states, the Nordic countries, Germany , the Netherlands, and Belgium. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz sent a letter to European Council President Antonio Costa , asking him to consider a " package approach ," that is, a comprehensive decision on the multiannual budget and support for Kiev.
The risk of a fracture among 27
According to sources, the lack of agreement could trigger internal conflict within the Union, with the risk of "blackmail," as described by Slovakian leader Robert Fico . Discussions are expected to continue in Dublin, where around fifty heads of state, including Zelensky, will meet on Thursday.
The 2028-34 budget and the €70 billion gap
The European Council in December will address the 2028-34 multiannual budget and, at the same time, the aid package for Ukraine. Projections indicate a gap of €70 billion in 2027, while the Commission estimates that €45 billion is needed to cover two-thirds of Ukraine's needs. A possible joint debt to finance part of this requirement is already under consideration .
Italy's role and Meloni's strategy
Meloni emphasized the need for a "single voice" for the EU, sending a letter to Costa shortly before Dublin. Italy is also participating in the so-called E4 (United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy) in the Abu Dhabi round, alongside the traditional E3 . This presence is intended to strengthen Italy's position in the negotiations on supporting Kiev and defining a coherent European approach.
The Italian prime minister finds himself having to balance pressure from a group of states demanding full funding for Ukraine with the need to maintain unity among the 27 member states before the next election year of 2027.