Italy believes that Macron’s statements about the intervention in Ukraine increase tensions. “If a conflict broke out, we would have a lot to lose”

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto believes that French President Emmanuel Macron’s statements about the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine “increase tensions”.

“I don’t judge a president of a friendly country like France, but I don’t understand the purpose and usefulness of these statements, which objectively increase the tension”, said the Italian Minister Guido Crosetto, in an interview published on Saturday by the newspaper Corriere della Sera, Agerpres quotes .

Crosetto also reaffirmed that Italy’s position does not change and that, although he has always supported the need to help Ukraine, “the direct intervention of the Italian army in the conflict has been ruled out.”

“Ukraine must be helped to avoid the expansion of the conflict, but all forms of dialogue must be sought, starting by weaving the web of diplomacy. Because if a conflict broke out, Italy would have a lot to lose,” Crosetto said.

He also recalled that in Italy there is “an explicit prohibition of direct military interventions, apart from those provided by laws and the Constitution” and “armed interventions can only be carried out by international mandate, for example to implement a UN resolution” .

“All countries can do more in terms of aid, but above all we must believe and insist on diplomacy. We must leave no stone unturned to reach a truce: even one day without bombs is a good result, because it can turn into two, three, four…” he added.

Regarding the situation in Israel and the war in Gaza, the Italian minister declared: “I would like all the mobilization that I see in favor of Palestine to also exist in relation to Ukraine. These large demonstrations that call for peace are fine, without resorting to violence, which, unfortunately, we have seen in recent days, especially in universities. But I would like to see them (protesting) also against all the deaths of Ukrainian civilians”.

_____