'Kyiv not challenging us on arms' use' - Crosetto

(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 30 - Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said Friday he hadn't discussed with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov about "possible targets in Russian territory" while at an informal meeting of defence ministers in Brussels, replying to a question on restrictions over the use of Italian weapons by Ukraine.
    "What I can say is that the Ukrainians have nothing to challenge Italy about on the issue: the judgement we care for is that of people in difficulty, not of others", he added.
    "Everything the Ukrainians have requested was given to them", Crosetto also said.
    On Thursday, Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the restrictions on the use of Italian weapons by Ukraine only in Ukraine itself remain in place after some other western countries have greenlit the use of their weapons in Ukraine's offensive into the Russian region of Kursk.
    Crosetto also said on Friday that Italy has asked partners to provide more ships to boost the EU's Aspides naval mission in the Red Sea to protect merchant ships from attacks from Houthi rebels based in Yemen.
    "We have agreed that the three vessels are insufficient to monitor such a large space", he noted while in Brussels.
    "I hope European countries will respond, despite commitments on various fronts, as I don't see improvements.
    "That part of the sea is vital for some member States, not for all, but it is right for us to share difficulties, as done in Ukraine", he added. (ANSA).