Italian PM Meloni did not say Russia will be 'forced to surrender’ at Ukraine peace summit

What is the claim?

A video clip purportedly showing Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at a recent diplomatic summit on Peace in Ukraine is circulating on social media. It claims that Meloni said at the event that "Russia will be forced to surrender."

In the viral clip, a Ukrainian voiceover, seemingly translating Meloni’s speech, states, "Protecting Ukraine means safeguarding the global rules-based order. We must unite efforts to defend Ukraine. If Russia refuses to agree to the conditions, we will compel them to surrender. We need to set conditions for this discussion. Peace in Ukraine does not equate to Ukraine surrendering, as Putin believes. That will not happen." At the 0:14 mark, Meloni is heard saying in English, "therefore would have been forced to surrender."

This clip has been shared on social media with captions claiming, "Globalist leaders are pushing us towards WW3. Meanwhile, Ukraine is on the brink of collapse." Another comment reads, "Some WW3 vibes from the 'peace summit' in Switzerland. Italian PM Meloni:…" Archived versions of such posts can be accessed here and here.

Screenshot of the viral social media posts. (Source: X/YouTube/Modified by Logically Facts)

What are the facts?

An extended version of the clip was posted on June 16, 2024, by the official YouTube channel of the Italian Government - Presidency of the Council of Ministers (archived here). Meloni delivered her speech at the two-day Peace Summit in Switzerland, where this clip originates.

The segment of Meloni’s speech featured in the viral clip can be found at the 0:30 mark of the YouTube video.

In the full video, delivered in English, Meloni actually said, "Defending Ukraine means upholding the system of rules that bind the international community and protect every nation. If Ukraine had not been able to count on our support and thus would have been forced to surrender, we would not be here today discussing the minimum conditions for negotiation."

Meloni’s exact words are also available in a transcript published by the Italian Government, Presidency of the Council of Ministers, on June 16.

Both sources clearly demonstrate that Meloni did not state or imply that Russia would be forced to surrender if it did not agree to certain conditions, contrary to the claims on social media. A thorough review of her entire speech reveals no such statement.

Summit on Peace in Ukraine

Representatives from around the world attended the Summit on Peace in Ukraine at the Burgenstock resort in Stansstad, Switzerland, on June 16 and 17. At the end of the summit, an official communique on Ukraine’s peace was issued, signed by 84 out of approximately 90 countries represented. According to BBC reports, the summit highlighted three critical priorities: protecting Ukraine's food exports, securing nuclear sites in Ukraine, and facilitating the exchange of prisoners and the return of all displaced Ukrainian civilians.

The verdict

Both the video transcript and the original footage confirm that Meloni did not assert that Russia would be forced to surrender. Instead, she criticized Russia for its war on Ukraine and discussed how international support, including Italy’s, bolstered Ukraine’s defense efforts.