Zelenskyy and no stop in Italy on whirlwind EU tour: Deliberate snub or tight schedule?

In recent days, Ukraine's President Zelensky has made whistlestop tours of several EU countries, stopping off in Greece, France and Spain for talks with their respective leaders on continued support for Ukraine in its efforts to fight off Russia's full-scale invasion.

In Athens, Zelenskyy signed a deal with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis linking the Greek DEPA Emporia and Ukraine's Naftogaz for the supply of US liqueifed natural gas for Ukraine pumped via Greece.

While in Paris, Zelenskyy inked a letter of intent with President Emmanuel Macron to purchase up to 100 Rafale warplanes, drones, air defence systems and other equipment over the next 10 years.

But this time, Zelenskyy did not make a stop in Rome for talks with one of his country's staunchest European allies, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

While some Italian papers have been rife with speculation about why the Eternal City wasn't on Zelenskyy's itinerary, Eleonora Tufaro, a Senior Researcher at the Ispi Observatory for Russia, Caucasus and Central Asia, told Euronews it was more likely a tight schedule that kept the Ukrainian leader away from Italy.

A divided majority and more military aid

Sources at the Ukrainian embassy in Rome, quoted by the daily newspaperLa Stampa, said that a meeting between Zelenskyy and Meloni was never on the agenda, saying they had already met on the sidelines of a European Council meeting on 23 October.

That still didn't stop a minor controversy within the government from brewing, with Transport Minister Matteo Salvini saying he was against a new military aid package for Ukraine, particularly in light of the recent corruption crisis involving some senior figures in the Ukrainian government.

Meanwhile,Defence Minister Guido Crosettowill present the 12th arms package for Ukraine to parliament in December which is expected to be approved.

In the background is Italy's participation in NATO's Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL)initiative, which sees European partners purchase US weapons for Ukraine.

Italy's membership of PURL

Italy is still among the few Western countries that have not confirmed their participation in PURL, a scheme which 16 nations already take part in.

But why is Italy so hesitant to join when it has been a consistent supporter of Ukraine?

"Just look at what happened in France," Tufaro notes, "There is a desire on the part of European states to favour their own military industry as well."

"This is the same logic that underlies the Ukraine reconstruction conference. In other words, the message is: we help Ukraine and our country system and our industries also benefit."

Zelenskyy avoiding Rome for a particular reason not credible

"This is a very restricted trip, which does not touch many capitals," Eleanora Tufaro told Euronews.

"There were precise objectives for the visit to Greece and France. Spain, by the way, is not among Ukraine's strongest allies, although it supports it."

"I do not think that the fact that Zelenksyy did not come to Italy, there could be an attempt to snub Rome. Italy, has confirmed itself as a credible partner for Ukraine, at least consistently, even if it is not among the top supporters, if we look at the latest figures in relation to how much of the total GDP it allocates."

"Rome, as evidence of its closeness to Kyiv," added the Ispi expert, "has also recently organised the conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine."

European countries and aid to Ukraine

According to the latest data from Statista regarding aid to Ukraine as a percentage of GDP, between January 2022 and June 2025 Denmark comes in first at 2.89%, followed by Estonia at 2.8% and Lithuania at 2.16%.

Italy comes in way down the table at 27, after France and Germany.

If military aid is expressed in euros over the same period, we find Germany in first place at €16.51 billion, followed by the United Kingdom with €13.77 billion and Denmark in third place with €9.16.

Italy ranks 11th at €1.7 billion.

"From the security point of view, among the top European countries in terms of the amount of aid to Ukraine, we have France and the UK. France is not only aiming to export, but also to build armaments with Ukraine," Tufaro explains.

"Kiev is moving in this direction, that is, to strengthen its defence industry also with a view to EU membership."

"The actor that, however, among the European ones gives the most money and armaments, is definitely Germany," she says.