Italy rejects peacekeeper role in Ukraine, sticks to security guarantees

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has confirmed that Italy does not foresee any involvement in a potential military mission on the ground in Ukraine.

The statement came following her participation in a videoconference with around 25 Western leaders, convened by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, to discuss the ongoing situation in Ukraine, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

According to a release from the Prime Minister’s office, Meloni reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to working alongside European and US partners to establish lasting and effective security guarantees for Ukraine. However, she emphasized that Italy would not participate in any potential deployment of peacekeepers or military personnel on the ground in Ukraine.

The announcement follows discussions about the possibility of forming a "coalition of goodwill" to send peacekeepers to Ukraine, a move that has been under consideration by Western leaders as the war in Ukraine continues to unfold.

While Italy’s position remains focused on diplomatic and security assistance, Meloni’s comments underscore the country’s preference for non-combat roles in supporting Ukraine, aligning with broader European efforts to ensure long-term peace and stability in the region.

On March 2, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer had already convened a meeting in London with mostly European leaders to discuss assistance to Ukraine, amidst declining support from the United States. The current virtual meeting is expected to further explore the intentions of the "coalition of goodwill" to send peacekeepers to Ukraine. Earlier, both France and the UK had proposed such a move, although they acknowledged that the idea would be unrealistic without backing from the US.

Initially, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was highly skeptical of the idea of sending European troops to Ukraine, even in a peacekeeping capacity. Rome only agreed to consider such a mission under very specific conditions: after a ceasefire and only under the auspices of the United Nations, with a larger, more diverse contingent. Meloni’s skepticism was so pronounced that there were even reports suggesting she might not attend the video conference, and her participation was not announced in advance.

As local observers point out, Meloni is reluctant to jeopardize Italy's privileged relationship with US President Donald Trump. She is also cautious about supporting any European initiative that could be seen as opposing the actions of the US administration.

By Vafa Guliyeva