Most Italian publications and news spaces pointed out the opinion expressed on Wednesday by the Russian president during a press conference within the context of the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum, in which he acknowledged that “caveman Russophobia” has not progressed in Italy.
A report published by the digital news site of the RAI News television channel cited Putin’s statement, expressed in response to a question posed by the ANSA news agency, “We see that Italy’s position is more restrained than that of other European countries and take it into due account.”
“We hope that when the situation in Ukraine begins to stabilize we will be able to restore relations with Italy, perhaps even faster than with other countries,” the Russian leader added.
On May 26th, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini noted that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg “either retracts or resigns,” after assessing Ukraine’s attacks on Russia using weapons supplied by the bloc.
Salvini, who is president of the conservative League party, asserted that the weapons delivered by Italy and other NATO countries to Ukraine are for defense and not to be used against Russian territory.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister, Antonio Tajani, emphasized that “we do not want the weapons sent by Italy to be used beyond the borders of Ukraine.”
Tajani categorically rejected the possible sending of Italian soldiers to fight on Ukrainian territory, and reaffirmed that “we are not at war with Russia.” “Kiev’s decisions are Kiev’s decisions, but we will not send Italian soldiers to Ukraine, and the military instruments sent by Italy will be used inside Ukraine, we work for peace,” he stated, and recalled that “we are an integral part of NATO, but every decision must be made jointly.”
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