The key facts

  • Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said the country's position on Ukraine 'cannot change'
  • The statement was made after the E5 defense ministers' meeting in Paris
  • Crosetto called the situation in Ukraine very dangerous for Europe's security

Crosetto: Italy's position on Ukraine will not change

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said on Monday that his country's position on Ukraine must remain unchanged. 'Italy's position on Ukraine cannot change,' he said at a joint press conference following the meeting of the defense ministers of the 'five' (E5) in Paris, Anadolu reports.

Commitments on three levels

According to Crosetto, this is a commitment that Italy has taken on at the international and European levels and within NATO. He noted that Italy considers what is happening in Ukraine very dangerous for Europe's security. In his assessment, helping Ukraine means helping to secure the future and security of Europe itself. 'We will continue to do this to the best of our capabilities,' the minister added.

Context

The statement came following the meeting of the E5 group defense ministers in Paris — a format uniting European countries. The source does not report details of the meeting itself or the positions of its other participants, limiting itself to the words of the Italian minister. In practical terms for Ukraine, this means confirmation of the continuation of Italian military and other support within the framework announced by Rome — 'to the best of our capabilities' — without any new specific measures being announced in this report.