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.
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