Presidential Leadership in Wartime: The Role of the Head of State in Italy and Germany During the Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Presidential leadership plays a pivotal role in managing international crises, particularly in contexts of geopolitical instability. This study offers a comparative analysis of the roles played by the President of the Italian Republic and the President of the Federal Republic of Germany in reshaping presidential authority during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with a specific focus on national security. Beyond the exercise of communicative powers, the analysis highlights how presidential proactivity manifests in the articulation of policy guidelines that shape institutional rhetoric on the conflict. Through a qualitative analysis of official speeches, public statements, and diplomatic interactions, the paper explores how the Heads of State interpret and steer public discourse, assuming roles of moral and strategic leadership. The study underscores the rhetorical, institutional, and symbolic tools employed to address the crisis of the international order, proposing a theoretical framework centered on symbolic leadership and institutional mediation. The objective is to understand how the Italian and German presidencies contribute not only to consolidating national unity but also to defining their respective countries’ strategic positioning in the global arena. The findings provide innovative insights into the evolution of presidential authority in parliamentary democracies when facing contemporary global challenges, emphasizing the increasing influence of presidential guidelines in shaping foreign and security policy frameworks.