European leaders including Meloni joined a pre-dawn "coalition of the willing" call with Trump before his anticipated conversation with Putin, advocating for a tough stance toward Russia. By midday, attention shifted to the EU-UK "reset" agreement on defense, energy, and youth mobility, which Farage condemned as "surrender."
Internal government fractures emerged when the cabinet formally challenged Trento's third-term mandate law, with the Lega voting against its coalition partners. President Fugatti called this "a very heavy institutional act."
The Trump-Putin phone call dominated afternoon coverage, lasting over two hours. Putin described it as "frank and useful," stating a ceasefire would require "appropriate agreements" and "compromises." Trump called for immediate negotiations, suggesting the Vatican as a potential venue. Zelensky responded firmly: "No decisions without us."
Tragedy struck when a teacher died in a school bus-truck collision in Lomazzo, though the children escaped serious injury.