French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni vowed to work jointly for a stronger Europe as they met on Tuesday following bilateral tensions over Ukraine, trade and relations with the United States.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron to Rome with a firm handshake on Tuesday, a meeting that many interpreted as a sign of diplomatic rapprochement. Following a three-hour discussion,

Premier Giorgia Meloni said Wednesday that the bilateral meeting she had in Rome on Tuesday with French President Emmanuel Macron was "very useful to strengthen dialogue and coordination between Italy and France in the face of growing common challenges.