France and Poland don’t speak for NATO, says Italy — RT World News

Paris and Warsaw do not have the right to speak for all NATO members when it comes to deploying troops in Ukraine, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto told La Stampa newspaper in an interview published Sunday. He added that such a move would only lead to escalation and harm any potential diplomatic efforts to end hostilities between Moscow and Kiev.

The minister was commenting on the recent statements of French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, both of whom expressed the possibility of sending forces from the US-led bloc to assist Kiev.

The French President said last week that the West “Can't be ruled out” Possibility of deploying NATO forces in Ukraine. His comments sparked a wave of denials from senior officials in NATO member states, including the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Finland and Sweden, who insisted they had no such plans. Poland had also initially said it would not send any troops to Ukraine.

Then top Polish diplomat Sikorski said on Friday that the Russian military operation in Ukraine required it “Asymmetric escalation” He added from the West The presence of NATO forces in Ukraine is not excluded. Macron himself has repeatedly stated that he stands by his statements. He said this week that there is “no limits” For the West's options in supporting Kyiv.

“France and Poland can speak for themselves [but] “And not on behalf of NATO.” Crosetto said of the developments. He also stated that he is making such arguments now “Does not make sense.” Any possible deployment of NATO forces in Ukraine “It means taking a step towards unilateral escalation that would cut off diplomacy.” The minister warned.

According to Crosetto, this is the diplomacy that Kiev's Western backers should focus on, as they struggle to keep up with Russia's military production capacity anyway. Moscow is “More equipped and flexible than NATO” The Defense Minister said that when it comes to military production “The West has discovered that it has much less production capacity than Russia.”

The minister particularly noted that NATO, based in Brussels, had managed to increase its ammunition production capacity somewhat in the year since it promised to supply Kiev with one million artillery shells, but added that “It is still below the Russian level.”

In such circumstances, the West “All possible support must be provided to Kiev.” but “Think of helping” Ukraine in “Another way,” Crosetto said, adding that Western countries should do so “Activating diplomatic channels.”

Earlier, Pope Francis called on Kiev to… “Be brave” The parties must engage in talks with Moscow to save lives rather than allow bloodshed to continue. He also said that there was no shortage of countries and international actors, including himself, who were willing to act as mediators in this regard.

Moscow has repeatedly said that it is ready to hold talks with Kiev at any moment, as long as the reality on the ground is taken into account. Kiev withdrew from the Istanbul negotiations with Russia in the spring of 2022, and has since put forward an agreement. “peace plan” Demand the withdrawal of Russian forces from all territory that Ukraine claims before any talks can begin. Russia rejected these demands as… “silly.”