Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has confirmed that Italy will not send troops to Ukraine, responding to proposals from France and the UK to deploy European soldiers.
In an interview with Rai 1 Secolo TV on March 4, Meloni described the idea of sending peacekeepers as “very difficult to implement” and questioned its overall effectiveness.
“This is why we have said we will not send Italian soldiers to Ukraine,” Meloni emphasized.
She acknowledged that these discussions were driven by European efforts to contribute positively and seek solutions to the ongoing crisis. Additionally, Meloni commented on the recent tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance during their Oval Office meeting, stating, “This is not the kind of debate that is usually held in front of the cameras.”
The discussions about sending troops to Ukraine gained momentum after French President Emmanuel Macron, during a visit to Washington on February 24, revealed plans developed by France and the UK to offer security guarantees to Ukraine. Macron stated that while foreign troops might be involved, they would not be stationed on the front line but would serve as a form of “guarantees.” The Wall Street Journal had previously reported that up to 30,000 soldiers from France and the UK could be sent, with U.S. support.
In response to the idea, President Zelensky expressed that Ukraine would welcome any peacekeeping contingent, but the Pentagon reiterated that U.S. troops would not be deployed to Ukraine.
