Italy’s Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has strongly criticized Russia for continuing to fuel the war in Ukraine and dismissed any prospects for peace talks, despite U.S. pressure. In a recent interview with Reuters, Crosetto expressed frustration with Russia’s stance, asserting that Moscow has shown no serious intention to pursue peace.
“Nothing has changed with the Russians,” said Crosetto, a close ally of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. “It is clear the Russians want to continue with the attacks as they have over the past three years.” The Italian minister’s comments come as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has voiced ongoing efforts to mediate an end to the conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, however, remarked that reaching a peace deal with the U.S. was challenging, adding that Moscow would not fall into a diplomatic trap.
Crosetto also took aim at Israel’s actions in Gaza, criticizing the recent strikes, including one that targeted a hospital. He emphasized the need for Israel to acknowledge its mistakes in the ongoing conflict. “For me, a Palestinian child is worth as much as a Ukrainian child or an Italian child,” he remarked, calling for Israel to show the courage to apologize for its actions.
Italy, under Meloni’s government, has staunchly supported Israel following the October 7 Hamas attacks. Still, Crosetto expressed concern over the escalating violence in Gaza and the wider Middle East, particularly the potential for war with Iran. “Gaza is a pond in which a stone is being thrown every day, and the circles that this stone creates widen more and more,” he warned.
On the domestic front, Crosetto emphasized the need for Italy to increase its defense spending, aligning with U.S. demands, despite resistance within Italy. Current defense spending is below NATO’s 2% GDP target, and Crosetto suggested that Italy should immediately increase military spending by at least 0.5% to 0.6% of GDP to address years of underinvestment in military infrastructure. He added that many Italians are hesitant to prioritize defense, due to a mistaken belief that it would lead to conflict. “Investing in defense is precisely aimed at avoiding conflicts,” he concluded.