Italy's Prime Minister Meloni suggests providing NATO-like assistance to Ukraine, but not membership in the organization - Italy's Prime Minister, Meloni, discusses potential NATO-like aid for Ukraine without pursuing membership for Kyiv.
The United States has proposed a new security arrangement for Ukraine, aimed at bolstering its defense against potential Russian aggression. According to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, this arrangement would operate outside of NATO, but resemble its Article 5, which obligates alliance members to assist each other in case of an attack.
The proposed arrangement would involve a group of countries, including the USA and European partners, committing to defend Ukraine if it is attacked again. This collective security framework would not grant Ukraine NATO membership, a move that has been explicitly ruled out by U.S. leadership. Instead, it would operate separately and not trigger NATO’s integrated military response structures.
If implemented effectively, the impact on Ukraine’s support from the USA and other allies could be significant. The arrangement could reinforce military and political backing with a multilateral defense commitment parallel to but outside of NATO structures. It could also strengthen Ukraine's position in peace negotiations by offering security assurances that address fears of further Russian aggression.
However, there is skepticism and caution surrounding this proposal. Ukrainians and some politicians are wary due to past failures of security assurances to deter Russia. The pact’s efficacy depends heavily on the precise commitments negotiated, including what actions partners will take and how quickly if Ukraine is attacked again. Russia strongly opposes security arrangements crafted without its involvement, signaling its expected resistance and risking further tensions.
The U.S. President has not specified whether these security guarantees would involve membership in NATO or an arrangement for collective security outside of NATO, as previously proposed by Prime Minister Meloni. The details of how this would work and why Russian President Putin might agree to it are not yet clear.
The discussions are expected to include territorial questions in eastern Ukraine, with Putin having allegedly pushed the idea that Ukraine should leave the Donbass. The U.S. President Joe Biden is set to meet Ukrainian President Zelenskyy at the White House on Monday to discuss these matters further.
The participating heads of state and government, including those from Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Poland, Italy, Finland, the EU, and NATO, have welcomed Trump’s statement that the USA is ready to provide security guarantees. Trump described the meeting with Putin as "productive."
Meloni praised the Ukrainian army as "one of the strongest in the entire continent," and the aid commitment also applies in the opposite direction, she added. The meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska was the first in-person meeting between the two leaders since Biden took office.
- The European Union, committed to the development of a common foreign and security policy, is carefully considering the proposed security arrangement for Ukraine, as it could potentially impact the general news landscape and the politics of war-and-conflicts in the region.
- The proposed security guaranteed by the USA and its European partners, which is yet to be clarified if it would involve membership in NATO or an arrangement for collective security outside of NATO, could lead to policy-and-legislation and legislation changes related to Ukraine's defense, if implemented effectively and backed by concrete commitments.
