Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday in Rimini announced Italy's proposal for NATO-like security guarantees for Ukraine, a mechanism inspired by Article 5 of the NATO Charter on collective defense. This proposal aims to provide Ukraine with security assurances without granting full NATO membership.
Meloni stated that the initiative was a key topic during recent talks in Washington involving the United States, European countries, and Ukraine. The proposed format, referred to in Western media as "NATO-lite," would obligate allied countries to coordinate a response within 24 hours in the event of an attack on Ukraine. This response could include accelerated military and economic aid, strengthening of the Ukrainian armed forces, and new sanctions against Russia.
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto emphasized that the initiative seeks to enable NATO, as a defensive alliance, to protect a foreign state such as Ukraine. If a unified alliance-wide format proves unfeasible, individual countries may assume such commitments bilaterally.
The proposal comes amid ongoing resistance from Moscow, which rejects the presence of foreign troops on Ukrainian territory and insists on Ukraine's neutral status.
Earlier reports from Financial Times and other sources indicated that Western allies are discussing a three-tier defense line for Ukraine, including the potential deployment of French and British troops as part of a future peace agreement. U.S. President Donald Trump has ruled out sending American ground forces but expressed willingness to consider air support and intelligence sharing.
Meloni credited Italy with helping shape Western discussions on Ukraine's security guarantees, highlighting the diplomatic breakthrough after years of stalemate. She underscored the importance of reliable security guarantees for Kyiv as a foundation for any settlement.
The proposal reflects a compromise approach to address concerns among NATO members wary of direct confrontation with Russia, while still providing Ukraine with collective defense assurances similar to those under Article 5 of the NATO treaty.
In addition to the NATO-like mechanism, alternative options under consideration include bilateral mutual defense agreements between Ukraine and individual NATO countries, and the formation of a multinational coalition of willing countries to provide peacekeeping forces and security support post-conflict.
The discussions continue as Western allies seek to balance deterrence against further Russian aggression with diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.
