Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has proposed a new multilateral defense treaty to the United States and other partners, a plan discussed during Volodymyr Zelensky’s Monday visit to the White House. The pact, open to non-NATO countries and operating outside the Atlantic Alliance’s formal structure, would commit signatories to react within 24 hours to support Ukraine in the event of a new Russian aggression.
Described as a ‘light’ version of NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense clause, the strategy is reportedly one of several options under consideration. Italian sources acknowledge its implementation would be complex but highlight two encouraging developments: Washington’s decision to accelerate the peace process and its willingness to participate in security guarantees.
A primary objective of the plan is to call Moscow’s potential bluff. The reasoning in government circles is that if Russia rejects the treaty, it would implicitly admit it has no intention of renouncing future aggression against Ukraine. For Italy, this solution is considered more easily applicable than the proposal, championed by France and Britain, to deploy deterrence troops on the ground.
The framework aligns with the bilateral security cooperation treaties Zelensky signed with various nations, including Italy, in early 2024, which envisioned Kyiv’s gradual approach to NATO. With that path now blocked by vetoes from Moscow and Washington, the new proposal represents a qualitative leap. It foresees rapid operational consultation—within 24, 48, or 72 hours—following a new attack.
The resulting response would not necessarily be military but could include proportional economic (e.g., sanctions) and political measures, depending on the nature of the Russian offensive. A key complexity is defining the coordination of any military intervention. While NATO mechanisms would need to be involved, the alliance could not formally lead operations, a condition Moscow would reject. A UN-led solution is similarly ruled out due to potential vetoes from Russia and China. Any Italian military intervention would, of course, require parliamentary approval as mandated by the constitution.
National security advisors are working on the treaty proposal, which is also expected to include provisions for strengthening the Ukrainian armed forces and intelligence cooperation. Italian sources indicate a short timeline for its definition, aiming for clarity on security guarantees within weeks—not months—ahead of an anticipated yet uncertain meeting between Zelensky and Vladimir Putin. Prime Minister Meloni is monitoring the negotiations from Puglia, where she is on a family holiday, and has postponed a scheduled Indo-Pacific mission from August 31 to September 8.