"Bringing U.S. and EU Leaders to the Same Table Is My Diplomatic Success" – Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

"Bringing U.S. and EU Leaders to the Same Table Is My Diplomatic Success" – Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Sunday hosted a significant trilateral meeting in Rome, where U.S. Vice President JD Vance and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen participated together. Meloni expressed hope that this meeting would serve as a “new beginning.”

This is being regarded as a major diplomatic achievement for Meloni. She has been praised for playing a bridge-building role with the Trump administration, even though her relations with key European partners have recently faced some strain.

At a press conference, Meloni said, “I’m very proud to have been able to bring the leaders of the EU and the United States to the same table.” She mentioned that the proposal for this initiative was made during her meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House a month ago during her U.S. visit.

“I hope today’s meeting is a first step and marks a new beginning,” she said. Meloni added that “although trade matters fall under the jurisdiction of the European Commission, Rome’s role is to facilitate dialogue.”

JD Vance said that Meloni has become a “good friend” and that he supports her efforts to build a Europe-U.S. bridge — an initiative both he and Trump endorse. Vance acknowledged that some differences still exist between the U.S. and the EU — such as over tariffs — but emphasized that the two sides also share many commonalities.

Ursula von der Leyen said she hopes the EU and the U.S. can reach a “mutually beneficial agreement” on trade matters. “These two partners engage in the largest trade exchange in the world,” she said.

Speaking on the war in Ukraine, the EU leader said, “What unites us on the Ukraine issue is the pursuit of a just and sustainable peace.” She expressed gratitude for the strong role the U.S. has played in efforts to end the war and noted, “The coming week will be very important for these peace talks.”

On Sunday, Rome became the epicenter of international diplomacy, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with American and European leaders. The meeting took place just a day before a high-level phone call scheduled between Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Zelensky also met with U.S. Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the U.S. ambassador’s residence. Earlier, he participated in the inaugural prayer led by Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, which was attended by leaders from various countries.