Italy rejects sending soldiers to Ukraine as Western troop talks intensify

Italy reaffirmed its stance against deploying troops to Ukraine, despite reports suggesting Anglo-French plans to send soldiers to bolster Kyiv in its fight against Russia.

“We help Kyiv politically, financially, and militarily by sending aid, but we will not send soldiers to fight in Ukraine,” Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Monday. He made the comments during the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Fiuggi, as reported by Italy’s state-run ANSA news agency.

Tajani also criticized Russia’s alleged recruitment of foreign fighters, including North Korean soldiers, Houthis, and Iranian proxies. “We must avoid escalation. Russia is taking on a serious responsibility by involving [such forces] in the war,” he said.

The remarks came amid a Le Monde report suggesting that France and the United Kingdom are revisiting plans to send Western troops to Ukraine. According to the French daily, discussions between Paris and London involve forming a core European coalition to address both Ukraine’s defense and broader regional security.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot fueled speculation last week during an interview with the BBC, stating that Western allies “should not set and express red lines” in their support for Ukraine. Asked whether this could lead to French boots on the ground, he replied, “We do not discard any option.”

The Kremlin quickly dismissed such reports, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov asserting, “There is no unanimity of opinion among Europeans on this matter, but of course, some hotheads appear.”

The potential deployment of Western troops comes as the war in Ukraine grinds on, with NATO allies continuing to weigh the risks of escalation against their commitment to support Kyiv.