Meloni receives Orban at Palazzo Chigi: focus on Ukraine, migrants and defence synergies

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni received Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban at Palazzo Chigi. Before that, she met Pope Leo XIV in a private audience in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican. At the centre of the two talks was the crisis in Ukraine. These were the two main stages of the day in Rome of the Prime Minister of Hungary and leader of the conservative nationalist Fidesz party Viktor Orbán.

As explained in a note from Palazzo Chigi, "the conversation allowed to focus on the prospects of bilateral relations and to have an exchange of views on the main current international issues, with particular reference to the situation in Ukraine, to developments in the Middle East and to the European agenda. Among the topics discussed were also the initiatives for an effective and innovative management of migration flows". Finally, the two leaders "discussed the opportunities offered by the European Safe instrument (the EU financial instrument, similar to a loan fund, set up in May 2025 to finance joint investments in European defence, ed.), evaluating possible synergies between Italy and Hungary in support of their respective industrial and technological capabilities".

the European Union counts for nothing. Donald Trump is wrong about Putin, I will go to him to get him to lift the sanctions on Russia,' Orban said in conversation with Repubblica and Messaggero on the sidelines of his visit to Rome. 'We have contracted out to the Americans and the Russians the possibility of solving the war. Unfortunately, we have no role. Europe is totally out of the picture,' Orban said, explaining that 'I will soon be at Trump's to solve the problem of oil sanctions'. On the meeting with Meloni, he explained that 'the important point is the future of the European economy, because there is little left to do about the war'

"During the cordial conversation in the Secretariat of State, the solid bilateral relations and the appreciation," the Holy See reports, "for the commitment of the Catholic Church in promoting the social development and well-being of the Hungarian community were emphasised, with particular attention to the role of the family, the formation and future of young people, as well as the importance of protecting the most vulnerable Christian communities. Ample space was also reserved for European issues, with particular attention to the conflict in Ukraine, and the situation in the Middle East.

Meloni tesse la sua tela nella delicata partita sull’Ucraina. L’incontro con Orban, la cui linea politica nei confronti della posizione da avere nei confronti della Russia si discosta da quella, meno flessibile, degli altri paesi Ue, si inserisce proprio in questo scenario. L’obiettivo è fare il punto della situazione, anche alla luce della partita delle sanzioni contro il petrolio russo che vede la contrarietà conclamata del leader ungherese, pronto a bloccare qualsiasi iniziativa in tal senso a Bruxelles. In comune con Orban la premier ha l’idea di non modificare il voto all’unanimità nelle decisioni del Consiglio europeo su questioni considerate sensibili, come la politica estera e la sicurezza comune (vi rientrano anche le decisioni sulle sanzioni, ad esempio). Ma in diverse cancellerie c’è la convinzione che Roma si trov