“Does anyone really think of defeating Russia?”. The League distances itself from Meloni

“Does anyone really think of defeating Russia militarily?”. More than just an explanation of vote. Almost a speech, that of Let’s Maximize Romeo, who – speaking in the Senate after the declarations of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, in view of the European Council – puts in line all the League’s doubts about military support for Ukraine. Words and positions that overlap, at times bypass the grillismo pacifism. For some, they also recall Putin’s propaganda.

The Carroccio group leader announces the favorable vote of his group, but expresses “the strong concern about how things are going on the front of the war between Russia and Ukraine“. It therefore distances itself from the action of the government and that of international allies. “Mediation initiatives by some countries are immediately set aside and judged non-credible even before being carefully analysed”, accuses Romeo, who refers to the proposal without naming her of peace that comes from Beijing, with respect to which – he suggests – there is a prejudice on the part of the Atlantic Alliance, of the United States.

Because of this, “the goal of cessation of hostilities seems more like a statement of principle”. So: “The problem is not military support for Ukraine, but the ever more powerful arms race“. There are doubts that in recent days the other majority party, Forza Italia, has also expressed itself regarding the request for planes made by Zelensky. Romeo turns to the premier, who watches with a dark face, with the same expression that can be seen on the benches of Fratelli d’Italia, where no one applauds: “Are we certain that an escalation of the conflict will be able to keep the war away from Europe and from our country?”, asks the senator, thus questioning Meloni’s words , who shortly before, in his report, had explained how weapons were necessary to contain the conflict on a “regional” scale.Not for the Carroccio group leader apparently, whose declarations, in many passages, are even harsher than those pronounced by the exponents of the M5s.

But that’s nothing new. Because the League had very similar positions, Romeo himself had pronounced them in January on the occasion of the vote on the decree for sending new weapons to Kyiv. “You can’t defeat Putin,” he said then. About a month later, precisely on the day of the premier’s visit to Kyiv, and with at least curious timing, the Northern League group leader repeated to Il Foglio: “Dear Meloni, we are hostages to warlike propaganda”. Concepts that return, clearer.

Today, he quotes the Italian and American chiefs of defense to reiterate that “there is no military solution to this conflict, neither Kyiv nor Moscow can win”. Military analyzes that are defined as “wise advice, before which politics remains deaf”.

“We are facing the desert of diplomacy”, is the next thrust, through which the League seems to contest the Meloni government for excessive flattening of the Atlantic positions. “More balance would be needed. It would be necessary to recover Italy’s historic role to encourage dialogue and at least a truce“. Then the appeal, which for the tones with which it is moved has the flavor of a challenge: “We are counting on you, president. We hear around that she is tough, not only because she had the courage to go to the CGIL Congress”, he began. Before sinking the blow: “If it is true that we are fighting the battle for the freedom of the West, we must be ready to defend it even in our own home. What freedom is it that criminalizes any idea that deviates a millimeter from the dominant thought?” Romeo’s answer is eloquent: “It looks more like a sweet tyranny”. And it is also the sign of a certain impatience.