WHEN UKRAINE’S allies’ military top brass met in London on March 20th to discuss a possible peacekeeping force, one of their number was missing. The chief of Italy’s defence staff, General Luciano Portolano, apparently had more important things to do and was represented by more junior officers. His absence was suggestive. The meeting was part of Europe’s response to the growing disengagement of America under President Donald Trump. But Italy’s hard-right prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, is a friend of Mr Trump, and that has put her in an awkward position.