Crozetto: aid to Kiev should leave open the possibility of starting negotiations
Aid to Ukraine from its Western allies should leave open the possibility of a ceasefire and the start of peace talks, Italian Defence Ministry chief Guido Crozetto said in an interview with la Stampa newspaper.
“I believe it is a mistake at this moment to escalate the already significant tensions. Yes, we need to help Ukraine defend itself, because if you don’t help it, World War III will indeed break out. Helping Ukraine is designed to prevent the outbreak of war. But this assistance must be given in a way that leaves open the possibility of an immediate ceasefire and peace talks,” he said.
Crozetto called NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s proposal to lift the restriction on Kiev’s strikes with Western weapons against facilities on Russian territory erroneous.
“There is no NATO secretary or one country that draws the line for everyone else. But it applies to (French President) Macron when he said: “We will send our soldiers to Ukraine”,” the minister said.
Italy’s foreign minister and deputy prime minister Antonio Tajani said Italy did not support Ukraine’s strikes on Russian territory. According to him, Italy supplies Kiev with weapons that should be used inside the country.