G7 Summit Highlights: Meloni’s Stance on Israel, Ukraine, and EU Leadership

In a press conference concluding the G7 summit in Bari, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni warned that Israel is falling into a trap laid by Hamas in its ongoing conflict in Gaza. Meloni emphasized the necessity of remembering the attacks on women and children but suggested Israel might have been isolated by Hamas’s strategy. She also indicated support for President Biden’s peace plan, which calls for a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Additionally, Meloni stated that the EU would not directly contribute to a $50 billion loan to Ukraine, which will be funded by the US, Canada, the UK, and potentially Japan, using interest from frozen Russian state assets. She noted that the EU’s role would be more indirect, such as providing guarantees.
Meloni highlighted her strong performance in recent European Parliament elections, asserting her influence in upcoming talks on EU top job allocations. She backed Ursula von der Leyen’s reappointment as European Commission president but insisted Italy would seek senior Commission roles.
She dismissed controversies over the exclusion of the term “abortion” from the G7 communique, despite protests from France and the US, calling the issue artificially constructed. The communique did, however, mention comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights for all. Meloni also defended her position on LGBTQ+ rights, stating no changes had occurred since she took power.
Finally, Meloni criticized Vladimir Putin’s recent peace offer as mere propaganda and expressed skepticism about the prospects of unfreezing Russian assets without a comprehensive peace process in Ukraine.