Public opinion on Ukraine is wrong – Italian defense minister

Ukrainians living in italy do not want to return to their country, while Defense Minister Guido Crosetto urges continued support of Kiev despite widespread public opposition Most Italians oppose aid to Ukraine in the conflict with Russia, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto has said, as the country grapples with cost-of-living protests. “We are fully aware that the majority of our public opinion, also influenced from abroad, is opposed to aiding Ukraine,” he told the BBC in an interview published on Saturday. “It is difficult to explain that you have to help a nation resist and that helping it resist does not mean that you are opposed to peace. ” He nevertheless argued that Italy should continue to support Kiev, while acknowledging public anger over rising energy prices linked to the sanctions on Russia. He went on to claim that ‘Russian disinformation’ is fueling discontent.

“We cannot give in to public opinion when we believe that public opinion is wrong,” Crosetto said, adding that “it is difficult to explain that, at this moment, we cannot give Russia any gift. ” Protesters clash with police in downtown Milan (VIDEOS) An Eumetra poll conducted last month found that 61% of Italians opposed supplying weapons to Ukraine, while 20% supported it and 18% expressed no opinion. Around 290,000 Ukrainian citizens are officially resident in Italy, according to the latest figures from the Istituto Nazionale di Statistica. Most of them are reluctant to return to their home country, Italian media reports. US President Donald Trump lifted sanctions on Russian diesel exports earlier this month after Kiev refused to halt strikes on Russian refineries, which Trump blamed for soaring prices. Crosetto argued that it was “a major mistake” for Trump to reduce support for Ukraine at such a…