She was updating parliament ahead of summit of European Union leaders, who will discuss support for Ukraine and plans to ramp up defence due to faltering US support for Kyiv under President Donald Trump.

Meloni said that building a "solid European pillar of NATO" was "urgent", but added that now was not the time to divide the West.

"It is unimaginable to build effective and lasting security guarantees by dividing Europe and the United States," she told the Senate.

"It is right that Europe equips itself to do its part, but it is at best naive, at worst crazy to think that today it can be done alone without NATO."

Meloni's hard-right government has strongly backed Kyiv in its war with Russia, despite her coalition partners' history of warm ties with Moscow.

She said Tuesday this backing had "never been in question".

But MEPs from her far-right Brothers of Italy party last week failed to back a motion in the European Parliament supporting Kyiv because it unfavourably referenced Trump's approach.

- Security guarantees -

The White House briefly cut off US aid and intelligence to Ukraine before restoring it after Kyiv backed a US proposal for a 30-day general ceasefire.

Meloni backed the US ceasefire plan Tuesday as a "significant step" towards a lasting peace, but also stressed the need for "security guarantees" for Ukraine.

This could be similar to those enjoyed by NATO members, where an attack against one is considered an attack against others, she said, but added that any support given would not necessarily involve using force.

Meloni was the only EU leader to attend Trump's inauguration in January and has sought to avoid any criticism of the president -- not least as his threatened tariffs risks hitting her exporting nation hard.

She has joined European allies as they urgently debate how to respond to Trump's pivot, although sometimes appears reluctant, only taking part at the last minute in a video-call organised last weekend by London.

She made clear Italy would not send troops to defend any truce, repeating on Tuesday that it would be "risky and not very effective".

She has also brushed off French President Emmanuel Macron's idea of extending its nuclear umbrella to other European nations.

- Divisions -

Meloni is battling divisions in her own party and among the wider Italian public.

An Ipsos survey for the Corriere della Sera newspaper last week showed 39 percent of those polled were against the European plan, compared to 28 percent for.

It also suggested declining support for Ukraine since Russia's 2022 invasion, although it remains strongest among Meloni's voters.

The charge against the plan is being led by her deputy prime minister and far-right League leader Matteo Salvini, who has in the past expressed his admiration for Russia's Vladimir Putin.

He tweeted Tuesday: "Using Italian money to pay for German tanks? No thanks."

Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, a member of the League, has also warned against the risk of further swelling Italy's enormous debt.

Italy currently spends about 1.5 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defence -- less than the NATO commitment of two percent and well below Trump's demand of five percent.

- 'Tightrope' -

Meloni did not go into detail about Italy's future plans, but noted that "strengthening our defensive capabilities doesn't just mean buying weapons".

Italy can produce more of its own, she said, adding that security could also involve the fight against terrorism, cybersecurity and even protecting gas pipelines.

Lorenzo Castellani, political expert at the University of Luiss, said Meloni was walking a "tightrope".

"It will be difficult for her to increase military spending by what she promised," a reported 2.5 percent of GDP, due to the political opposition and debt issue, he told AFP.

But at the same time, "I do not expect her to break with Trump", he said.

He said he expected her to keep working with European allies while trying to "slow down the proposals of the countries most ready to support Kyiv".

ar/ide/phz

IPSOS