Italy’s Meloni opposes sending troops to Ukraine, offers new defence plan

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has voiced her opposition to the deployment of troops to Ukraine, a proposal discussed by European leaders in Paris this week.

Instead, Meloni has put forward an alternative solution: extending NATO’s mutual defence clause to Ukraine without the country joining the alliance, Caliber.Az reports, referencing foreign media.

Meloni’s plan has stirred debate among European and Ukrainian officials. While NATO’s Article 5, which obliges members to come to the defence of any ally under attack, has been central to the alliance's collective security framework, Meloni believes her approach would avoid escalating tensions with Russia while still offering a form of protection for Ukraine. She argued that this proposal would be “easier and more effective” than sending troops directly, a move she considers both risky and difficult to implement.

The Italian Prime Minister’s vision aims to offer Ukraine a "paper guarantee" of mutual defence, triggered only if Russia launches an attack on the country again. Meloni suggests that this approach, which avoids the formal NATO structures and military bases, would be less provocative to Moscow than an official invitation for Ukraine to join the alliance.

Meloni stated that a reassurance force, as previously proposed by other European leaders, could risk provoking Russia. She emphasized that a defensive pledge without NATO’s full military infrastructure could reduce tensions while still offering Ukraine a degree of security.

While this proposal may be seen as a compromise solution, it raises questions about its efficacy. Ukrainian officials may question whether such a guarantee would provide the security commitment they seek, and some European leaders remain wary of any move that could appear to undercut NATO’s integrity. Additionally, the proposal may face resistance from the Trump administration in the US, which has expressed concerns over the potential for NATO expansion and the increased risk of direct involvement in the conflict with Russia.

Meloni further noted that the current geopolitical landscape, including the possibility of a return of Donald Trump to the White House, adds complexity to any decision regarding the future of NATO’s relationship with Ukraine. She pointed out that, while she does not foresee Putin attacking Ukraine again under Trump’s presidency, the situation could change in the long term, with Trump’s legacy potentially at stake.

Despite some skepticism, Meloni remains firm in her stance and intends to take her proposal to the US administration once she feels the time is right. Her approach offers an intriguing alternative to the idea of sending troops to Ukraine, which many European leaders, including Meloni, find problematic given the risk of escalation into direct conflict with Russia.

As the situation unfolds, the international community will be closely watching how these security proposals evolve and whether Meloni’s idea gains traction among NATO allies and Ukrainian leaders. The outcome could significantly shape the future of Europe’s defence strategy and its approach to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

By Aghakazim Guliyev