Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is hosting a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance on Sunday at 15:30 Brussels time, her office announced. The discussions will center on strained EU-U.S. relations, particularly amid an ongoing tariff dispute, according to a government statement. The three leaders will also attend Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural mass in Rome.
Key global issues, including the war in Ukraine, are expected to feature prominently in the talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, also in Rome, shook hands with Vance on Sunday—their first encounter since Zelensky’s tense meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in February.
Sunday’s meeting could lay the groundwork for a future discussion between Trump and von der Leyen, with the goal of reaching a political agreement on trade policy. The U.S. currently imposes tariffs of 25% on European steel, aluminum, and auto parts, along with 10% duties on most other goods.
A 90-day pause on broader tariff hikes has led the EU to suspend retaliatory measures on steel and aluminum, allowing technical-level negotiations to continue.
Meloni, a right-wing leader with close ties to Trump, is among the few EU figures to maintain a strong relationship with the U.S. president. She visited him in Washington in late April and extended an invitation to Italy, where a potential meeting with EU leaders could take place. While Trump accepted, no concrete plans have been finalized. The two briefly spoke at Pope Francis’s funeral in Rome, agreeing to meet again.
During the trilateral talks, von der Leyen described the meeting as a potential turning point in transatlantic relations. Vance, in his opening remarks, referred to Europe as "an important ally," acknowledging disagreements on trade while emphasizing shared interests.
Von der Leyen highlighted the depth of the EU-U.S. trade partnership, valued at over $1.5 trillion annually, and expressed optimism about reaching a mutually beneficial deal. "The devil is in the details, but what unites us is that we want a good agreement for both sides," she said.
She also praised U.S. support for Ukraine, calling the coming week "crucial" for advancing efforts to end Russia’s war. Additionally, von der Leyen stressed the need for greater EU defense spending, noting that the European Commission has unlocked €800 billion for military investments over the next four years.