Europe’s Voters (Especially Italians) Endorse Ukraine’s Friends

Submission Statement: The recent European Parliament elections demonstrated that European voters endorsed pro-Ukraine parties and rejected populist forces friendly to Russia. This was strongly evidenced in Italy, which delivered a strong vote of support for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s party, which has firmly backed Ukraine. The results indicate the new Parliament will have a robust majority to continue supporting Ukraine under Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s leadership. Moreover, the outcomes provide an opportunity for von der Leyen to forge a ruling coalition that positions the Italian Prime Minister as a balancing force across Europe.