Italy considers sending sappers to help demine Ukrainian territories and sea areas

Italy’s ruling coalition is set to discuss the possible deployment of sappers to assist in clearing Ukrainian territories and sections of the Black Sea of mines, Corriere della Sera reported.

The matter is expected to be addressed at a cabinet meeting by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Deputy Prime Ministers Antonio Tajani and Matteo Salvini, as part of Rome’s potential contribution to enhancing Ukraine’s security.

According to the publication, no immediate decision will be made, and any deployment would take place only if a truce is reached. Italian officials reportedly aim to maintain some distance from the so-called “coalition of the willing,” even if the personnel sent would serve in paramilitary roles.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Matteo Salvini, leader of the League party, has made it clear that he is firmly against sending Italian combat troops to Ukraine.

Prime Minister Meloni is also opposed to such a step, meaning that the option of dispatching sappers for demining operations is viewed as a compromise solution. The idea of sending specialists to help clear mines from the Black Sea floor had been raised earlier during the tenure of former Prime Minister Mario Draghi.

During a forum in Rimini on August 27, Meloni emphasised that security guarantees for Ukraine modelled on NATO’s Article 5 remain the primary mechanism under consideration by Kyiv’s Western partners.

By Tamilla Hasanova