The Insider’s Game: Meloni and Stubb Play Key Roles in Trump Talks

While the leaders of Europe’s largest powers will make the formal arguments, the success of the mission to support Ukraine may hinge on an insider’s game played by two unlikely figures: Italy’s Giorgia Meloni and Finland’s Alexander Stubb. Both have cultivated unique personal access to Donald Trump and are now using it for a common cause.
As part of the “bodyguard” delegation for Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Meloni and Stubb are tasked with reinforcing the official message through private, informal channels. Their ability to speak to Trump outside the rigid constraints of Oval Office diplomacy is a critical asset.
Meloni leverages her status as a trusted friend from the far-right, a relationship solidified at Mar-a-Lago and Trump’s inauguration. She can frame the argument for Ukraine’s sovereignty in terms that might resonate more with Trump’s worldview.
Stubb, meanwhile, uses the rapport he built on the golf course. His friendly but direct warnings about Vladimir Putin, delivered in a relaxed setting, may penetrate deeper than formal briefings. These two leaders represent Europe’s best hope of influencing Trump’s thinking from the inside out.