The US-Russia talks in Riyadh dominated Italian media coverage, with Moscow showing unprecedented flexibility by accepting potential EU membership for Ukraine. By midday, Senator Rubio called for EU inclusion in negotiations, while Putin expressed willingness to meet Zelensky. Draghi's address to the European Parliament demanded unified action and 800 billion euros in common debt investment.
Pro-Russian hackers continued attacks on Italian infrastructure, targeting the Made in Italy Ministry and Financial Police in apparent retaliation against Mattarella. Zelensky's cancellation of his Riyadh visit prompted Lavrov's dismissive response, while Il Fatto revealed Trump's proposed peace terms involving Ukrainian resource concessions.
The Vatican's announcement of Pope Francis's bilateral pneumonia requiring complex treatment shifted evening coverage, as European leaders prepared for Macron's new summit attempting to maintain EU relevance in peace negotiations.