Guido Crosetto has said Rome must continue to support Kiev despite public opposition and growing protests over government spending<\/p>\n
Most Italians oppose aid to Ukraine in the conflict with Russia, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto has said, as the country grapples with cost-of-living protests.
\n\u201cWe are fully aware that the majority of our public opinion, also influenced from abroad, is opposed to aiding Ukraine,\u201d he told the BBC in an interview published on Saturday.
\n\u201cIt is difficult to explain that you have to help a nation resist and that helping it resist does not mean that you are opposed to peace.\u201d
\nHe nevertheless argued that Italy should continue to support Kiev, while acknowledging public anger over rising energy prices linked to the sanctions on Russia. He went on to claim that \u2018Russian disinformation\u2019 is fueling discontent.
\n\u201cWe cannot give in to public opinion when we believe that public opinion is wrong,\u201d Crosetto said, adding that \u201cit is difficult to explain that, at this moment, we cannot give Russia any gift.\u201d<\/p>\n
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An Eumetra poll conducted last month found that 61% of Italians opposed supplying weapons to Ukraine, while 20% supported it and 18% expressed no opinion.
\nUS President Donald Trump lifted sanctions on Russian diesel exports earlier this month after Kiev refused to halt strikes on Russian refineries, which Trump blamed for soaring prices. Crosetto argued that it was \u201ca major mistake\u201d for Trump to reduce support for Ukraine at such a critical time.
\nCrosetto\u2019s remarks came as anti-government demonstrations swept northern Italy over the weekend, with clashes erupting in Milan, Turin, and Bologna. Protesters demanded more funding for public services and accused Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni\u2019s government of prioritizing military spending over education and welfare. Demonstrators in Milan chanted \u201cmore money for families, less for wars.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Under Meloni, a staunch supporter of Kiev, Italy has maintained military assistance to Ukraine, totaling more than \u20ac3 billion ($3.4 billion) since 2022. Supplies have included artillery systems, armored vehicles, and SAMP\/T air defense systems developed jointly with France. Italian media also reported deliveries of Storm Shadow cruise missiles capable of striking targets deep inside Russia.
\nMeloni\u2019s policy has faced resistance within her governing coalition, including from Matteo Salvini\u2019s League party. Last week, Roberto Vannacci, the leader of the right-wing National Future party, accused Vladimir Zelensky of treating Europe \u201clike an ATM\u201d after the Ukrainian leader requested another \u20ac70 billion ($79 billion) in aid. Vannacci argued that Italian taxpayers should not have to foot the bill.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Guido Crosetto has said Rome must continue to support Kiev despite public opposition and growing protests over government spending Most Italians oppose aid to Ukraine in the conflict with Russia,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":40103,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,6,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40102","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-environment","category-politics"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t