Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has endorsed a proposal for postwar security guarantees that would require Ukraine’s allies to respond within 24 hours if Russia launched a renewed attack. According to Bloomberg, the plan resembles NATO’s Article 5 commitment to collective defense but does not include Ukraine’s formal membership in the Alliance. Meloni has advocated since March 2025 for extending NATO-style protections to Kyiv without granting accession. The idea is now part of a wider discussion among European leaders, who have intensified talks following the Alaska summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The proposal envisions countries that have signed security agreements with Ukraine quickly deciding on a joint response if Moscow violates a peace deal. Potential measures range from military support to economic assistance and sanctions. While it remains uncertain whether individual nations would commit combat forces directly, Bloomberg has reported that around 10 European states are prepared to deploy troops as part of a deterrence mission. NATO military leaders also met virtually on Aug. 20 to coordinate possible support mechanisms.
The U.S. role remains under debate. President Trump has suggested Washington could provide air support, stressing that no American ground forces would be deployed. He pointed to missile defense systems or other aerial assets as possible contributions, while the White House later confirmed that air support remains “an option.” Trump, who previously rejected binding guarantees for Ukraine, shifted his stance after a White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders on Aug. 18.
