Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister
Antonio Tajani said Tuesday that EU High Representative for
Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell was not reflecting Italy's stance
after he echoed NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg's
suggestion that Ukraine be given the all-clear to use
Western-supplied weapons for strikes inside Russian territory.
"Borrell's position is not ours," Tajani said this at the end of
a meeting with the Italian National Chamber of Fashion in Milan.
"We are in favour of de-escalation in the Middle East and
Ukraine.
"We have a very clear position, that is - we will not send
Italian troops to fight and we do not authorise the use of
Italian military equipment outside the borders of Ukraine.
"This is in the agreements we made with Ukraine and we are
watchful of the use of military material".
Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, who is also deputy premier,
went further, calling Borrell a "bomb-thrower" and saying: "he
does not speak on my behalf, he does not speak on behalf of the
Italian people".
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni has also said she is against
Ukraine using Western-supplied weapons for strikes inside
Russian territory.
"We must be very prudent," Meloni said after Stoltenberg mooted
the idea.
"NATO must not give off the signal that it is giving in.
"But there have been many questionable statements. I advise more
prudence".
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