Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has reportedly clashed with French President Emmanuel Macron over proposals to send European troops to Ukraine, ahead of upcoming talks in Washington. The disagreement emerged during discussions before European leaders and Ukraine’s Zelens,ky met with U.S. President Trump, following Trump’s meeting with Russian President Putin. Meloni criticized the idea of sending troops, questioning the feasibility of matching Russia’s military strength. Macron advocated for a joint European deployment as part of a ‘coalition of the willing’ to provide peacekeeping forces in case of a truce or peace deal. Meloni, however, preferred extending Ukraine protection similar to NATO’s Article 5, without formal NATO admission. Other European nations like Germany, Poland, Spain, Romania, and Croatia have also refused to participate in such a mission.
Earlier this month, The Sunday Times quoted an anonymous UK defense official as acknowledging that “no one wants to send their troops to die in Ukraine.” Back in April, Sergey Shoigu, secretary of Russia’s National Security Council and former defense minister, warned that the arrival of NATO troops in Ukraine could trigger a third world war. The sentiment among European leaders reflects a deepening divide on how to respond to the ongoing conflict, with some advocating for increased support to Ukraine and others prioritizing national interests and security concerns. The situation highlights the complex geopolitical landscape of the conflict, with major powers weighing their options carefully.