this post was submitted on 01 Mar 2025
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Summary

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called for an "immediate" summit between the US, EU, and Western allies to discuss Ukraine following a heated White House meeting between Trump and President Zelenskyy.

The February 28 meeting ended without agreement on a minerals deal after escalating into a confrontation over US aid and peace deal conditions.

Meloni warned that Western division "makes us all weaker" as European leaders reaffirmed support for Ukraine.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas commented that "the free world needs a new leader," while European allies worry about being excluded from US-Russia negotiations to end the war.

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[–] [email protected] 171 points 1 week ago (12 children)

Europe really needs to beef up its defense industries and whatnot. America's unreliability is becoming an existential threat and it's clear that Trump and Co will be extremely opportunistic and quick to align with Russia.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 week ago (7 children)

I love reading about people not knowing the EU military industry writing about how it's somehow weak. Newsflash: it's not. We don't talk or write about it 'cause it's sensitive data. We protect sensitive data. Our armies may not be strong, but our military industry is.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 week ago (4 children)

Your industries can't even supply artillery and basic equipment to Ukraine, at least nowhere at the level needed to win the war. This is well-known. European leaders have been harping on the need to upgrade capacities.

So, newsflash: sorry, your military industry isn't up to par yet. The potential is there. Many of the technologies are there. The actual support and capacity to make the most out of that potential is lacking.

This isn't in any way a controversial opinion. The reality on the ground with constant shortages and European leaders themselves acknowledging the military industry needs more support is well known.

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 week ago (6 children)

when the over extended USD crashes offer up the EU and move on while US sinks into a generational depression from the interest alone.

TLDR positive trade and international allies matter. Isolationism ends with one outcome.

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[–] [email protected] 151 points 1 week ago (19 children)

I understand that Meloni is struggling with cognitive dissonance here because she loves Trump and the American far right but also recognizes Russia as the obvious enemy to Europe that they are (and thereby making Ukraine our natural ally).

But the time for courting is over. America has become a hostile nation and they might actually be our enemy soon.

Increase European integration and federalization. Increase defense spending and fund a European MIC. Organize into a joint European army. This and only this can be our way forward or we will be crushed between two fascist superpowers.

[–] [email protected] 40 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I couldn't agree more. I'm an outsider to Europe, unfortunately, and find myself as a Canadian increasingly seeing America in much the way Ukraine must have felt about Russia in 2010. Europe is the last hope for democracy and the rule of law in the world right now.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I hope we can greatly strengthen our relationship between the EU and Canada.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 week ago

Same here my friend. Terrible times in the world, and the only way to survive such times is cooperation

[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Italian here:

Meloni and her government do not perceive Putin as an enemy AT ALL. One of the most prominent members of her government even said Putin should receive a Nobel Peace prize.

Meloni and Orban are just fascists, in the case of Meloni even belonging to the excised appendix of a literal Fascist party.

Please take them at face value!

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 week ago

Same in Slovenia when it comes to far right. They were drooling over Trump (our PM at the time even congratulated Trump on winning 2020 elections before the official results) and also painted themselves as biggest Ukraine supporters. Now I'm not sure where they stand and how they rationalize the situation, since I'm off X and Facebook.

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[–] [email protected] 91 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Italy needs to understand that thinking you can reason with Trump makes Europe weaker.

In fact, this works with all countries. He’s a literal baby. He doesn’t understand or want to hear your reasoning because he knows he’s right. As soon as everybody understands that, the quicker they can get to the task of isolating the US as much as possible.

[–] [email protected] 55 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Italy is probably not acting in good faith. Meloni is a serious piece of shit.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 1 week ago

Italian here, I feel ashamed of our PM. It is even more ridiculous how she endorsed the relationship with US just a couple of weeks ago and then Trump started doing even more shitty things.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Not to downplay Italian politics, But Trump is not acting in good faith either. Trump is a serious piece of shit too.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Italy’s leader is like actually a neofascist

[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 week ago

Which is probably why she's so keen to talk to Trump, who's also a fascist.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 week ago

And trump and his GOP friends aren't? The only difference is that Italian fascists can use the nostalgia card, so their rhetoric is clearer.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 1 week ago

I am surprised that after all what have been happening in just the last weeks any entity would consider Trump’s words to have any value of any kind, they end having no reliability nor accountability, how could be worth any reasoning attempt?

[–] [email protected] 80 points 1 week ago (2 children)

How fucked is the world, when Meloni is the reasonable one...

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I'm Italian and I would have never thought that Meloni would be the reasonable one in this shit. Oh well.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (12 children)

She is just trying to act as interface between Europe (edit) and US. No idea why Italian government is always convinced to have a special relationship with the US, most likely because they are non threading to US hegemony as Germany or France are.

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[–] [email protected] 79 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

Who's gonna be representing murica there? Is it gonna be this happy threesome?

[–] [email protected] 68 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I trust the sofa; it looks reliable.

[–] [email protected] 36 points 1 week ago

We all know Vance was fondling that sofa when attention was turned elsewhere.

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[–] [email protected] 34 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Looks like Rubio is not yet used to sofa fucking.

Actually such a disappointment from him, after his talks about Ukraine few years ago.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 1 week ago (1 children)

The Secretary of State implements foreign policy but doesn't decide it.

Honestly, if I were Rubio I would have declined the Secretary of State spot. At the moment, I doubt it does much to help any Presidential ambitions he might have and he probably had more actual power in the Senate rather than at State.

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Knees needed bending. Rings needed kissing.

[–] [email protected] 39 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

I've seen some analysts claim that just this one time Zelensky needed to be more of an actor and smile and wave through the bullshit. But I disagree, if you stand for nothing, you will keep getting walked over, if not by putin, by trump, like little Marco here.

[–] [email protected] 27 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I suspect the whole thing was premeditated, so it wouldn't have mattered. Does the VP normally interrupt the president when talking to other world leaders? Zelensky smiling and tacitly agreeing to Putin's narrative was never going to happen. I also can't imagine any European leader going to the White House and saying, "Yes, we've treated you very unfairly. The European Union was just a conspiracy to screw over America and we're very sorry, Dear Leader..."

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 week ago

When I saw the latest deal, it didn't look as bad (I mean it was bad, but not horribly bad as the initial suggestion) so was wondering what changed again. Yeah, looks like he was baited and this was done on purpose.

Trump wants to go all the way with Russia, but there are still Republicans that support Ukraine or at least dislike Russia and he wanted to show them that Zelenskyy is just an ungrateful warmonger.

Another thing is that trump invited Russian press to this meeting (while American AP is banned).

[–] [email protected] 71 points 1 week ago

Meloni warned that Western division "makes us all weaker"

No shit, that is literally the reason Trump is being divisive

[–] [email protected] 67 points 1 week ago

What does she think she's going to accomplish inviting the US, except sabotage?

Oh wait, she's a fascist -- that's exactly what she's hoping to accomplish.

[–] [email protected] 60 points 1 week ago (4 children)

I would start from removing dollar reserves from european banks. The value of money is only when people believe it have value. So if US money won't have any value Europe won't need US help.

[–] [email protected] 27 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I approve. As an American, I have been trying to swap my savings for Euros, because it feels like that the American Dollar will hyperinflate. However, I have a concern:

Musk is likely to try to install a Muskcoin and create a X Everything app, so that he can control the money of Americans. The EU will need to offer Euro banking services in the Blue States to oppose the establishment of Muskcoin. Also, blacklist American billionaires from European fiscal institutions, such as not accepting the swap of Musk's dollars for Euros or EU properties.

[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I've never expected that the Cyberpunk eurodollar is about to be defictionalized.

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 week ago (3 children)

DOGE will fuck with the FDIC, force banks out of business. Musk tweets "Don't worry, X has secured a contract from this great administration and have started XBank! All accounts and money from all US-based banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions will be migrated to XBank. Download the app immediately. X account is required to access the XBank app. This will be the only way to access your money so get your account today!"

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[–] [email protected] 49 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I am Italian and I beg the EU to ostracize Meloni and Orban as much as possible, especially in this crucial moment. As fascists and Putin puppets just like Trump, their simple plan is stall things long enough for Ukraine to be in an even worse situation.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I am not Italian, rather swedish, but what I have seen from Meloni in reality is that she has taken a very firm stance against Putin and his war on Ukraine and has given huge amounts of military equipment (scroll down to Italy to see what military equipment they have given) and and money to Ukraine. Meloni has never stood in the way of political decisions to support Ukraine or sanctions against Russia to my knowledge, rather has been at the forefront of implementing them and has continuously condemned Putin and Russia's agression. Exactly in what way is Meloni a puppet of Putin?

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[–] [email protected] 48 points 1 week ago

Meloni probably wants to congratulate Trump.

[–] [email protected] 46 points 1 week ago (4 children)

Georgia Meloni is an embarrassment for Italy.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 week ago (4 children)

Cool, at least the US isn't alone

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[–] [email protected] 41 points 1 week ago (4 children)

The USA absolutely cannot be trusted as an ally. If a war we're to break out right now I truly do not know what side I'd be on.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 1 week ago (4 children)

I know which side I’d be on, just not sure which side my government will be.

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[–] [email protected] 26 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Hard pass. He would just use the opportunity to rant at our diplomats like he did with Zelenskyy. We wouldn't want to sign any deals with a criminally insane dictator anyway.

The bond is broken, the ship has sailed. Time for us to pursue a Europe First strategy. Post haste, preferably.

And it's not just investments into military hardware we need to make but also pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, etc. We need to become independent as soon as possible.

The groundwork is there. We can do it if we really want. MEGA will beat MAGA, and screw Trump and his puppet master.

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[–] [email protected] 25 points 1 week ago (7 children)

America is pro Russian anti Europe. This charade of pretending like the US isn't is a waste of time.

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[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 week ago

Bad news Fash Barbie, Trump is letting Europe hang to the Russians

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