Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has opposed sending Western troops to Ukraine, reigniting a contentious issue among European leaders ahead of high-stakes talks in Washington. According to Italian daily Corriere della Sera, Meloni expressed her reservations during consultations with other European leaders and Ukraine’s President Vladimir Zelensky before their meeting with US President Donald Trump.
At the heart of the debate is a proposal, spearheaded by French President Emmanuel Macron, to deploy a joint European force to Ukraine. However, Meloni responded skeptically, pointing to the daunting challenge posed by Russia’s 1.3 million-strong military. “How many soldiers should we send to be up to the task?” she asked.
The disagreement comes as European leaders grapple with how best to support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. In early March, Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled plans for a “coalition of the willing” that would provide ground and air forces in a peacekeeping capacity if Kiev and Moscow reach a truce or peace deal.
However, Meloni has instead advocated for extending protection to Ukraine under a framework similar to NATO’s Article 5, which provides for collective defense in the event of aggression. This approach would not involve formally admitting Ukraine to the NATO bloc.
Italy is not alone in its reservations about deploying troops to Ukraine. Germany, Poland, Spain, Romania, and Croatia have also declined to participate in a hypothetical military mission, while an anonymous UK defense official recently acknowledged that “no one wants to send their troops to die in Ukraine.”
The risks of escalation are real. Sergey Shoigu, secretary of Russia’s National Security Council and former defense minister, warned in April that the arrival of NATO troops in Ukraine could trigger a third world war. As European leaders navigate these fraught discussions, they must balance their commitment to supporting Ukraine with the need to avoid further inflaming tensions with Russia.
As the conflict continues to simmer, one thing is clear: the path forward will require careful diplomacy and a deep understanding of the complex web of interests at play.
