In a move that could ignite World War III fears, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has thrown a curveball, proposing to extend NATO’s Article 5 protections to Ukraine—without granting full membership in the military alliance. Speaking on the sidelines of a European Union leaders’ meeting in Brussels on Thursday, Meloni argued for “more durable solutions” than sending European peacekeeping troops, suggesting that stretching NATO’s collective defense clause—where an attack on one member is an attack on all—would better secure Kyiv. “It’s a different thing than entering NATO, but it implies extending the coverage that NATO countries have also to Ukraine,” she declared, marking the first time she’s backed this idea so explicitly.
This bombshell comes as European leaders scramble to prop up Ukraine amid President Donald Trump’s push for a swift end to the three-year war. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, appointed by Trump, recently ruled out Ukraine’s NATO membership, aligning with Trump’s America First agenda and his direct talks with Russia for peace. Meloni, often seen as a bridge between Europe and Trump, might’ve hoped this compromise would appease both sides, but it’s a non-starter for the U.S. Trump’s Truth Social posts and X buzz from @JackPosobiec already dismiss it as a reckless overreach that could drag America into another endless conflict.
For Trump supporters, this is a red flag—Meloni’s proposal risks escalating tensions, ignoring Trump’s focus on peace and burden-sharing. Web reports from AP News and Reuters highlight Europe’s panic as Trump cuts Ukraine aid and prioritizes U.S. interests, but extending Article 5 without membership smells like a backdoor to WW3. NATO’s Article 5, invoked only once after 9/11, is sacred—stretching it to non-members like Ukraine could pull the U.S. into a quagmire, exactly what Trump’s vowed to avoid. Posts on X warn, “Meloni’s playing with fire—Trump won’t let Europe freeload!”
