By Gavin Jones

ROME (Reuters). – Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi will travel to Washington Tuesday, to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden. The backdrop is awkward in the United States. Coalition leaders are vocalizing growing discontent over Ukraine’s continued supply of weapons.

Giuseppe Conte was the former premier and his 5-Star Movement, which is the largest party within parliament, has asked Draghi to find a diplomatic solution rather than to send more “heavier” weapons that Conte claims could increase the risk of escalating the conflict.

Draghi has been adamant about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and has ignored Conte’s request for him to speak before Washington to explain the position that Italy had taken to Biden.

Surveys have shown that there is very little public support to send weapons to Ukraine from Italy, which contrasts with other G7 nations like France, Germany and Britain.

Matteo Salvini from the right-wing League, another stakeholder in Draghi’s coalition, took Saturday’s same position as Conte regarding military support for Kyiv.

“More arms to Ukraine?” No. “They would be more death, more warfare, more famine,” said Salvini. Salvini used to praise Russian President Vladimir Putin before this year.

Even the center-left Democratic Party, which was most supportive of Draghi’s hard line, now shows signs of internal divisions and a slow shift in its position.

Graziano Delrio of the PD said Sunday that Draghi must tell Biden not raise tensions.

Enrico Letta (PD leader) told Corriere della Sera every Monday that Europe must not allow itself to be led “by the United States”. He called on the five biggest EU nations to travel to Kyiv, then Moscow as part of a push to achieve peace.

We don’t know if these tensions will impact Draghi’s strategy on the war. Others suggest that 5 Star or the League might quit the coalition before the next national election.

A source in the Italian government said that Draghi will spend three days in Washington as part of his first trip since he took office fifteen months ago. It will be focused on Ukraine and preparations for next month’s meetings with NATO and G7.

Italy is heavily dependent upon Russian gas so energy security will definitely be on Draghi’s agenda. Claudio Descalzi (head of Eni oil and gas company in Italy) will accompany Draghi.

Draghi is a former President of the European Central Bank and will meet Speaker Nancy Pelosi of the U.S House of Representatives. She will then receive the 2022 Distinguished Leadership Award of Janet Yellen from the Atlantic Council.