Italy opposes allowing Ukraine to attack Russia with Western-supplied weapons

Rome: The Italian government has objected to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who urged the allies to lift restrictions on the use of weapons provided to Ukraine against targets in Russia.

Details: Matteo Salvini, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Lega political party, expressed his disagreement with the NATO secretary general’s position.

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

Just as I repeat, the Lega is against sending even one soldier to fight in Ukraine. We want peace, not the antechamber of World War III,” he said.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani is also critical.

“We are an integral part of NATO, but every decision must be taken collectively,” he said.

For Tajani, “Kyiv’s choice is Kyiv’s choice”.

“We will send no Italian soldier to Ukraine, and the military tools that Italy sends are used inside Ukraine, we are working for peace.

The messages coming from Russia also provoke the hybrid war that is being waged, but we must always work for peace and lower the tone,” Tajani said.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg believes it is high time for some allies to reconsider restrictions on the use of weapons provided to Ukraine against targets in Russia.

The New York Times has recently reported that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken wants to ensure that Ukraine is allowed to strike Russian territory with US-supplied weapons. He wants to convince US President Joe Biden to lift the restrictions.

In an interview, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine is in talks with international partners about the possibility of striking targets in Russia with their weapons.