Diplomatic tempers flared this past week as France summoned Italy’s ambassador to Paris, Emanuela D’Alessandro, following a blistering attack by Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini on French President Emmanuel Macron’s stance regarding Ukraine. The episode, which unfolded between August 21 and 23, 2025, has rekindled old tensions between the two European neighbors—just months after both governments had publicly pledged to reset their often turbulent relationship.
The latest spat centers on President Macron’s suggestion that European soldiers could be deployed to Ukraine as part of a post-war settlement with Russia. The proposal, though not new in European security circles, has become a flashpoint for political debate across the continent. When pressed by reporters earlier in the week for his view on Macron’s idea, Salvini, who leads Italy’s right-wing League party and serves as Transport Minister in Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s conservative government, responded with a Milanese dialect phrase roughly meaning “get lost.” According to Reuters, Salvini didn’t stop there. He told reporters, “You go there if you want. Put your helmet on, your jacket, your rifle and you go to Ukraine,” pointedly addressing Macron in a tone that left little room for diplomatic ambiguity.
Paris wasted no time in responding. On August 21, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs called in Ambassador D’Alessandro, where, as RFI reported, she was reminded that “such remarks run counter to the climate of trust and the historic relationship between our two countries, as well as recent bilateral progress, which has highlighted strong convergence between Paris and Rome, notably in their unwavering support for Ukraine.” The French diplomatic source, cited by Global Banking and Finance Review, emphasized that these comments undermined the “climate of trust and the historical relationship” between France and Italy, especially at a time when both countries have worked to present a united front on Ukraine.
Salvini’s remarks, delivered in the Lombard dialect and translated by Le Monde as “hang on to the tram”—an idiom meaning “get lost” or “fend for yourself”—were widely seen as a direct challenge to Macron’s leadership on European defense. The Italian deputy prime minister’s caustic tone was nothing new; he has repeatedly criticized Macron, especially over Ukraine, and is well known for his closeness to Moscow. In fact, only a few months earlier, Salvini had branded Macron “mad” for his steadfast support of Kyiv against Russia, as detailed by RFI.
This diplomatic dust-up comes at a particularly sensitive moment for Franco-Italian relations. Less than three months ago, Prime Minister Meloni and President Macron met in Rome in a high-profile effort to reset relations and demonstrate goodwill, following years of misunderstandings and crisis-driven exchanges. Both leaders had, at least publicly, set aside their differences to focus on shared priorities, including support for Ukraine. Their united front was on display at recent high-level meetings, including a Washington summit with then-U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, where both Paris and Rome reaffirmed their commitment to Kyiv.
But Salvini’s intervention has threatened to unravel that fragile rapprochement. The Italian ambassador’s summons is just the latest in a string of diplomatic clashes between Paris and Rome since Meloni’s government came to power in October 2022. The two countries have sparred over a range of issues, most notably migration. France has repeatedly criticized Italy for refusing to allow NGO rescue ships carrying migrants to dock, while Italian leaders have accused France of hypocrisy for its own strict border controls. In 2019, tensions ran so high that France briefly recalled its ambassador after then-Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio accused Paris of perpetuating poverty in Africa and fueling migration. Salvini, for his part, has often used migration as a political cudgel, railing against what he sees as Brussels overreach and berating France for “lecturing” Italy while shutting its own borders.
Yet, despite these recurring disputes, both governments have found common ground in their support for Ukraine. According to Reuters, the French diplomatic source stressed that “recent bilateral developments… have highlighted strong convergences between the two countries, particularly with regard to unwavering support for Ukraine.” Macron, a consistent advocate for Ukraine in its war with Russia, has been working closely with other European leaders—most notably British Prime Minister Keir Starmer—to mobilize support for Kyiv should a ceasefire materialize. The French president’s readiness to consider the deployment of European troops in a post-war context reflects his broader push for a more assertive European role in continental security.
Salvini’s provocations, however, threaten to complicate that united European response. His open skepticism regarding European military involvement in Ukraine, coupled with his reputation as a political provocateur, has often put him at odds not only with Paris but also with elements of his own government. Salvini’s history of courting controversy is well documented: from donning Putin T-shirts in Moscow to making inflammatory statements about migration and Europe, he has rarely shied away from the spotlight. His latest remarks, as Le Monde reported, have been called “unacceptable” by Paris and have reignited concerns about the stability of the Franco-Italian partnership at a time of acute geopolitical uncertainty.
Behind the scenes, officials in both capitals are said to be working to contain the fallout. The French diplomatic démarche, while stern, stopped short of escalating the dispute further, perhaps mindful of the broader stakes involved. The ongoing war in Ukraine has forced European leaders to close ranks, and any public fissure among key allies risks playing into the hands of Moscow. Macron’s office, according to Global Banking and Finance Review, remains focused on rallying European support for Ukraine, regardless of the political noise emanating from Rome.
Meanwhile, in Italy, Salvini’s comments have drawn both support and criticism. His base, which has long been skeptical of deeper European military engagement and wary of antagonizing Russia, sees his stance as a defense of Italian sovereignty. Others within the governing coalition, however, worry that such rhetoric undermines Italy’s international credibility and risks isolating the country at a critical juncture.
The latest diplomatic row serves as a reminder that, while shared interests can bring even the most fractious partners together, old habits die hard. The Franco-Italian partnership, forged in the crucible of European integration, has survived countless crises over the decades. Whether it can weather the current storm—and maintain a united front on Ukraine—remains to be seen.
For now, the world will be watching to see if Paris and Rome can move past the barbed words and return to the business of diplomacy. The stakes, for both Europe and Ukraine, could hardly be higher.
