Italy opposes use of NATO weapons for Russian strikes

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg's suggestion that Western allies lift the ban on Ukraine using NATO-supplied weapons against targets on Russian territory was greeted with reluctance in a number of EU countries, including Italy.

On Monday, on the sidelines of the European Council in Brussels, which also devoted a session to the brutal Israeli war against Gaza, Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani once again expressed Rome's opposition to the use of NATO weapons on Russian soil. .

We have made a commitment since the start of the war in Ukraine.

We will ensure that the military equipment sent by Italy is used in Ukraine.

We are not at war with Russia. We defend the independence of Ukraine.

It is not Stoltenberg who is making these kinds of calls. It is a collective process.

Our goal is to achieve peace. Faced with this impasse, we hope that Putin will sit down at the negotiating table.

Antonio Tajani, Italian Deputy Prime Minister

Even Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has until now been an enthusiastic supporter of Ukraine, said she was against kyiv's use of Western-supplied weapons for strikes on inside Russian territory.

Meloni warned that the West needed to be very careful, saying Europe was not about to expand the war in Ukraine.

Italy's other deputy prime minister, Matteo Salvini, also expressed disagreement with the position of the US-led NATO secretary general.

Italy is not at war with anyone and if it was right to help Ukraine militarily, at the same time lifting the ban on military targets in Russia is out of the question.

I am against sending even one Italian soldier to fight in Ukraine. Stoltenberg should either retract his statement, apologize, or resign.

Italian Deputy Prime Minister, Matteo Salvini

While every word aimed at easing tensions is welcomed, it must be recognized that the statements of senior Italian officials must also be read in the perspective of the upcoming European elections.

All three parties in Italy's governing coalition face electoral difficulties and their leaders are keenly aware that a large majority of Italians are against the war, both in Ukraine and Gaza.

Tiberio Graziani, geopolitical analyst

Also on Monday, Israel's brutal war on Gaza was highlighted by Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto following Tel Aviv's attack on tents housing displaced people in Rafah, which killed dozens of Palestinians .

Crosetto said the situation in Rafah is no longer justifiable and that all states have agreed that Israel must stop. Crosetto also warned that sowing hatred would affect Israel's future generations.