Italian government continues aid to Kyiv despite public opposition
Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto stated that victory for Ukraine means Russia leaving, stopping bombardments, and Ukraine securing a free future. He stressed that a total military defeat of Russia remains unrealistic. This was reported by Glavcom citing BBC, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
The official pointed out that the Italian public often misunderstands a Ukrainian victory as an ambition to crush the Russian military and march flags into the aggressor’s capital. He stressed that such an outcome is not possible.
«For Ukraine, victory means that Russia will leave, stop dropping bombs, and Ukraine will once again become a free country — free to live and have its own future. This is the kind of victory for Ukraine that we all desire», Crosetto explained.
Italian Public Sentiment on Support
The defence chief addressed domestic opinions, noting that the majority of Italian citizens oppose providing assistance. Even so, the Italian cabinet does not plan to halt support for Kyiv.
«It is hard to explain that one must help a nation resist and that providing aid does not mean being against peace. Most importantly, one must not surrender to public opinion if one believes it is mistaken», the minister emphasised.
Moscow’s Strategy and Tech Partnership
Regarding Vladimir Putin’s motives, Crosetto pointed to Kremlin attempts to restore the global influence of the Soviet era due to reluctance to trail behind Washington and Beijing. He noted that strikes against Ukraine, Crimea, Georgia, and historically Afghanistan show a persistent mentality geared towards aggression and occupation.
Meanwhile, Rome and Kyiv continue technical defence collaboration: in August 2026, former Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov became an adviser to Crosetto on defence innovations. Both sides cooperate on drone development, autonomous platforms, and air defence solutions.
Photo: скриншот з відео BBC
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