The scramble, conducted under the alliance's eastern-flank air-defense mission, unfolded as Meloni held talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, and it framed a dual message the Italian premier delivered to European allies at a brief press conference afterward.

Meloni said Putin is seeking escalation in order to "shift attention from the battlefield, where the war is not going as he had promised," and argued that Europe "must not react" to such provocations. Instead, she said, Europe should consider appointing a single envoy on Ukraine to speak with one voice and thereby "strengthen its position" at the negotiating table.

According to Meloni's analysis, escalation benefits only Putin, and Europe faces a "delicate" situation in which it must move beyond "the multiplication of formats, events and interlocutors." She said she has long proposed the envoy idea and that the representative could come from a "medium-sized nation, aligned with Ukraine, that knows Russia and has good relations with the United States" — a description that fits Norway. Former Norwegian premier and former NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg might come to mind, though Meloni's remarks were not an endorsement, it was made clear.

The Italian premier showed little enthusiasm for proposals launched by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen 24 hours earlier. On the proposed European Security Council, Meloni suspended judgment while voicing a concern: "The only thing to avoid is duplication; I need to understand what is different in von der Leyen's proposal compared with Article 4 of NATO."

The discussions in Oslo took place as European chancelleries study reports on Moscow's hybrid threats, including scenarios of an attack on Romania in early 2027.

On Canada's bid to become an associate member of the European Union — a move that has angered Donald Trump — the position of Meloni's Brothers of Italy party was voiced by MEP Nicola Procaccini, a close Meloni ally, who called it "a mistake: more than associating with Canada, it is being done against the United States." Meloni adopted a more diplomatic line, saying that "not details, but serious and reliable partners who can help us toward strategic autonomy must be involved."

Asked about opposition proposals from Elly Schlein on using flexibility for energy, Meloni said she would examine them "without the prejudices the oppositions have," adding with a jab that from "a very quick read" she was pleased to see "an implicit recognition of the government's work."

The visit to Oslo was the first by an Italian prime minister in almost 15 years. Meloni returned with the conviction that she had forged with Norway "a solid 360-degree partnership on security, at a technological, political and industrial level."

The two leaders listed the dossiers on which cooperation can be strengthened. At the top is energy, crucial also because, as Store recalled, Norway "supplies Italy with 10% of the gas it uses." Defense, naval shipbuilding, critical materials, the submarine domain and space were also examined, including during a dinner with major Norwegian and Italian companies such as Leonardo, Fincantieri and Saipem.

Meloni described a collaboration stretching from Africa, through the Mattei Plan, to the Arctic, on whose prospects Store expects to gain information through Italy's "diplomacy."