Italy’s defence minister rejects sending troops to Ukraine

6 months ago 29

Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has firmly rejected the idea of sending troops to Ukraine, stating that such a move would only increase tensions.

“Our position remains unchanged: we have always said that Ukraine should be helped in every possible way, and we are doing so. But we have also always ruled out direct military intervention by our troops,” Crosetto told Corriere della Sera in an interview on Saturday.

Crosetto criticised French President Emmanuel Macron for reiterating late last week that he would not rule out sending troops to Ukraine, questioning their purpose and warning against further escalation of the conflict.

Macron’s remarks have sparked a fierce debate in NATO circles, particularly among key allies such as Germany and the US, which have also strongly opposed the idea.

“I don’t judge a president of a friendly country like France, but I don’t understand the purpose and usefulness of these declarations, which objectively raise tensions,” the defence minister added.

Crosetto reiterated Italy’s commitment to helping Ukraine through diplomatic channels but detailed the legal constraints Italy is subject to, explaining that its constitution prohibits direct military intervention unless mandated by international law, such as a UN resolution.

“The one envisaged in Ukraine would not only fall outside this case but would trigger a further spiral of conflict that would not benefit Ukrainians. In short, the conditions for our direct involvement do not exist,” he added.

While Italy has been unwavering in its support for Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion, Crosetto is leaning towards a diplomatic approach to resolving the conflict, citing concerns that further escalation would not serve the interests of any party.

He also stressed the need to step up diplomatic efforts, including by applying pressure on the UN and Russian President Vladimir Putin and possibly through mediation by the Vatican, to bring about a ceasefire.

(Alessia Peretti | Euractiv.it)