Italy's Defence Minister Guido Crosetto stated that US limits on satellite and intelligence access for Ukraine are a 'major mistake' that risks prolonging the war.
Italy’s Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has criticized the United States for limiting access to satellite systems and intelligence used by Ukraine to defend against Russian attacks. In an interview with the BBC, Crosetto described the move as a "complete mistake, a major mistake" and warned that it "makes absolutely no sense."
Crosetto argued that restricting resources for Ukraine risks prolonging Russia's full-scale invasion rather than facilitating peace. He stated that if Russian President Vladimir Putin perceives weakness on the Ukrainian side, he will believe he can win and continue the war. "Peace will come when Putin is convinced there is a stalemate, that he cannot advance any further," Crosetto said.
The minister emphasized that depriving Ukraine of resources creates weakness. "If [Putin] sees weakness on the Ukrainian side – and if the US deprives Ukraine of resources, that creates weakness – then he will believe he can win. So he will continue the war," he said. "I think that is completely wrong."
This criticism follows recent comments by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who called a US deal to buy diesel from Russia a "very risky choice" that would "grant Russia legitimacy." Meloni, who has been a close ally of Ukraine, stated that such moves run counter to efforts to bring Putin to the negotiating table.
Despite government support for Ukraine, domestic opposition is growing. Polls conducted for the Ixè institute in September indicated that only 18% of Italians support continuing to supply arms. Recent protests in Rome saw students chanting, "We want more classroom, not more bombs," while truckers in southern Italy blocked roads over rising fuel prices.
Crosetto acknowledged the difficulty of explaining the need for continued support to citizens facing economic hardship. "It's very hard to explain to a citizen who's having trouble at the petrol pump that we can't give any concessions to Russia right now. But that's the only way to defend the future of that very citizen who's complaining," he said.
The minister also addressed security concerns, noting that cyber-attacks linked to Russia are now routine, with "hundreds every day." He criticized Europe's response as too weak, stating, "You can't win a war... if you don't fight back."
Crosetto dismissed reports of planned drone attacks from container ships in the Mediterranean as unproven and attributed a fire at an arms depot outside Rome in August to "human stupidity" rather than arson. He also blamed an active campaign of disinformation by Moscow for shifting public opinion against Ukraine, targeting "certain political figures... and narratives to weaken the political climate against Russia."
The divergence between Italy's government and public opinion highlights the political challenges facing European leaders as they navigate support for Ukraine amidst economic strain. Crosetto's comments underscore the tension between maintaining military pressure on Russia and addressing domestic concerns about energy costs and resource allocation.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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