Amid high-level talks on the Russia-Ukraine war and tensions in West Asia, a brief off-the-record-style conversation provided a lighter moment at the G7 Summit. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni revealed that she had quit smoking a month ago, earning praise from fellow leaders gathered around her.
A coffee break leads to a personal revelation
The exchange took place on Tuesday while Meloni was speaking with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
As the leaders chatted informally away from the official agenda, Meloni mentioned that she was in need of some coffee.
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“And a cigarette?" Merz responded with a smile.
“I stopped," Meloni replied.
The revelation immediately drew praise from those around her.
“You stopped? Bravo!" von der Leyen exclaimed.
“One month ago," Meloni said.
What followed was a light-hearted discussion about quitting smoking and staying away from the habit. Starmer then turned to Costa and asked about his own experience.
Leaders share their experiences
When Starmer asked. “When did you stop?" Costa replied that he "stopped in 2005."
“And that’s it? Never gone back?" Starmer followed up. “Never went back," Costa said. “Twenty-one years ago."
The conversation stood in sharp contrast to the serious issues being addressed at the summit, including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and tensions in West Asia. Yet the candid interaction offered a rare glimpse into the personal side of leaders more commonly seen discussing diplomacy, defence and international policy.
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Another viral Meloni-Modi moment
Earlier in the day, Meloni was also seen sharing a friendly exchange with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Nice to see you again. We are the most famous on Instagram," Meloni told PM Modi.
Modiji and meloni 😠pic.twitter.com/6iWmtkCIUN
— Jash (@jeetcasm) June 16, 2026
Her remark appeared to reference the viral "Melodi Toffee" post shared by Modi, which gained massive attention online and further fuelled the popular "Melodi" social media trend.
While the G7 summit remained focused on pressing geopolitical challenges, moments like these highlighted the informal interactions that often take place behind the scenes, away from the conference table.
