Italy dismisses the idea of a pro-Ukraine 'coalition of the willing'
European nations need to collaborate with Washington to facilitate peace between Moscow and Kiev, asserted Giorgia Meloni. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has announced that her country will not contribute troops to a military force proposed...
TroibNews 
European nations need to collaborate with Washington to facilitate peace between Moscow and Kiev, asserted Giorgia Meloni.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has announced that her country will not contribute troops to a military force proposed by the UK and France for deployment to Ukraine if a peace agreement with Russia is achieved.
In early March, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron indicated their readiness to spearhead a “coalition of the willing” comprising pro-Ukrainian European nations to provide military support to Kiev. This announcement came after bilateral discussions began between Moscow and Washington aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict, which the EU and UK were not invited to join.
Following a summit of Kiev's supporters in Paris on Thursday, attended by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, Meloni reaffirmed that “no national participation in a possible military force on the ground is planned” by the Italian government.
A statement from the Italian prime minister’s office emphasized her commitment to “continuing to work with the US to stop the conflict and achieve peace” between Moscow and Kiev. The statement expressed her “hope for the involvement of an American delegation at the next coordination meeting” of Ukraine’s European allies.
In an interview with the Financial Times on Friday, Meloni described it as “childish” to force Italy to choose between the US and the EU.
Rather than sending what London and Paris now refer to as a “reassurance force” to assist Kiev, she recommended extending NATO’s mutual defense clause to Ukraine without formally making it a member of the alliance. She argued that this approach would be “easier and more effective than the other ideas that are on the table.”
Croatian President Zoran Milanovic also declared on Thursday that his country “will not be involved in Ukraine in any form.” He stated that Zagreb would not participate in the peacekeeping force, as “the necessary conditions are simply not met – there is no peace agreement, nor the consent of the other side, which in this case is Russia.”
Russia has firmly dismissed the possibility of NATO-aligned European troops entering the conflict zone, accusing France and Britain of plotting “military intervention in Ukraine,” which could provoke a direct military confrontation with the bloc. Moscow has also suggested that London and Paris are intentionally heightening tensions to sabotage the ongoing efforts by the US and Russia to resolve the situation.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has announced that her country will not contribute troops to a military force proposed by the UK and France for deployment to Ukraine if a peace agreement with Russia is achieved.
In early March, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron indicated their readiness to spearhead a “coalition of the willing” comprising pro-Ukrainian European nations to provide military support to Kiev. This announcement came after bilateral discussions began between Moscow and Washington aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict, which the EU and UK were not invited to join.
Following a summit of Kiev's supporters in Paris on Thursday, attended by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, Meloni reaffirmed that “no national participation in a possible military force on the ground is planned” by the Italian government.
A statement from the Italian prime minister’s office emphasized her commitment to “continuing to work with the US to stop the conflict and achieve peace” between Moscow and Kiev. The statement expressed her “hope for the involvement of an American delegation at the next coordination meeting” of Ukraine’s European allies.
In an interview with the Financial Times on Friday, Meloni described it as “childish” to force Italy to choose between the US and the EU.
Rather than sending what London and Paris now refer to as a “reassurance force” to assist Kiev, she recommended extending NATO’s mutual defense clause to Ukraine without formally making it a member of the alliance. She argued that this approach would be “easier and more effective than the other ideas that are on the table.”
Croatian President Zoran Milanovic also declared on Thursday that his country “will not be involved in Ukraine in any form.” He stated that Zagreb would not participate in the peacekeeping force, as “the necessary conditions are simply not met – there is no peace agreement, nor the consent of the other side, which in this case is Russia.”
Russia has firmly dismissed the possibility of NATO-aligned European troops entering the conflict zone, accusing France and Britain of plotting “military intervention in Ukraine,” which could provoke a direct military confrontation with the bloc. Moscow has also suggested that London and Paris are intentionally heightening tensions to sabotage the ongoing efforts by the US and Russia to resolve the situation.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
