How Italy reacted to Ukraine’s surprise incursion in Russia’s Kursk

Rome: The Meloni government’s stance unequivocally supports Kyiv, viewing their blitz as a justified response to the aggression. However, there have been differing opinions within the cabinet and opposition, with the League and the 5 Star Movement playing the pacifism card by criticising the escalation and advocating for diplomacy

The government’s position. “Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani described the rare cross-border attack by Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region of Russia as “a response” to the Russian invasion.

According to the newspaper La Stampa, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a staunch supporter of Kyiv, is not entirely opposed to the Ukrainian blitz as this could potentially serve as a means to compel Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table.

A difficult position. Minister Tajani emphasised that Italy is not at war with Russia and has consistently maintained that its weapons should not be used on Russian territory.

However, it may be difficult to explain the fact that the weapons being sent by Italy will be used for both defensive and offensive purposes.

This was confirmed by a source in the Ministry of Defense quoted by La Stampa, who stated that “almost none” of the Italian weapons sent to Ukraine have clear intentions for their use.

The Salvini-Conte entente. The leader of the League, Matteo Salvini, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister, has consistently maintained his stance as a right-wing pacifist. He has criticised the Ukrainian counter-offensive on Russian territory, in an attempt to position himself.

This position was also supported by the 5 Star Movement. The party of former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte stated that the EU’s stance is only “adding fuel to the fire and not helping to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict”.